Week 3

This week I am blogging from Omaha Nebraska at Olympic Trials. I am swimming two events at this meet, but so far I have only swum one. I did the 200 fly which is a brutal event. All swimming events pose their own physical and mental challenge. In my opinion, the 200 fly is unique in the way it can cause you to seize up and feel like you cannot finish. For this reason, swimming in this race at the level of the Olympic Trials was very intimidating for me. The dinner before I swam I could not finish my meal and I became very concerned with how the next morning would go. I have been swimming a long time and at big meets I always get nervous, but I have never been this nervous before. In the morning I tried to eat my granola bar, but I could barely get one bite down. 

At Olympic Trials they walk each heat out and show each swimmer on a big screen. I could feel my hands buzzing from the adrenaline. During the race, I was a bit too tense and by the last 50, I was hurting more than I wanted to be. By the last 25, I felt my arms start to seize up and by that point, I was just praying for the wall. The race did not turn out as I had hoped, but it was a great experience at the Olympic trials. I ended up as the first alternate for finals and swam my third-best time.  My qualifying time to get into the meet would have put me first after the prelims swim. Now I just have the 100 fly on Sunday. 

All the support I have received at this meet has been so meaningful to me. I have known I am. going to Olympic Trials since November so it seems normal to me, but when people find out and get excited for me it makes me so happy. There have been a lot of people reach out to me and congratulate me which means a lot. I have put so much time and effort into swimming and moments like these remind me of part of the reason it is all worth it.


This trip has made me reflect on what goals I have to come. Going to the Olympic Trials has been a goal for me since I started swimming. Next year I will be swimming with the Cal Bears and I have to make more goals I want to accomplish in the last 4 years of my swimming career. This is definitely bitter sweet because while this is very exciting it also pretty much marks the end of my high school swimming career.

***I am editing this post while I am home with better wifi. On Sunday I had the 100 fly. I made A final which was very exciting. I was way less nervous for that event compared to the 200 fly so I was able to swim it better. Here is a link to me winning my prelim heat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySRx21tv4wk 













Comments

  1. Sue P.June 9, 2021 at 10:37 AM

    Hi, Lizzy! Thanks so much for describing your interior experience leading up to the Trials. When you describe your hands buzzing, I can just imagine how managing the adrenaline, expectations, and hopes must factor into this weeklong event. Whatever the outcome, this community is SO PROUD of you for getting to this level in your athletic performance. I'll check back for your next post soon.

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