I’m forever in debt to my parents and every person who may have sat through a session of a Nationals meet to watch me swim. Bleacher butt and back is real! Bleacher life could not really be any more different from competing athlete life. You have zero control. You do not have a 50 meter by 2 meter rectangle to call your personal space. You have conversations. You wish you were horizontal in a refreshing pool. You feel lumpy and much less tan than the swimmers deck changing down there. I may be getting bronzed in the bleachers, but it’s a guaranteed farmer’s tan which is significantly worse than the inevitable one piece tan (which always showed evidence that my suit was, in fact, riding high on the hiney).
Not a horrible transition, even if I made it sound depressing. I love getting to chat with my family and getting acquainted families of swimmers I’ve always admired. Usually I meet the very people responsible for sculpting those swimmers into admirable individuals. Last summer I met distance stud Connor Jaeger’s family in Barcelona. I had never met Connor before, but after spending a week with his family in the stands, I knew he must be a terrific guy. I hugged him when I was finally introduced on the last day of the meet.
 |
| Team USA families in Barcelona |
It’s been pretty magical hearing the family perspective of their kid’s success. Missy Franklin’s parents are unimaginably down-to-earth and completely humbled by the mega fame their beloved Missy has risen to. I asked Mr. Franklin if the last quadrennial has been a whirlwind for him; hard to take in. Although his daughter is an inspiration for thousands, probably millions, what blows Mr. Franklin away are the other remarkable people her notoriety has introduced them to. The wounded warrriors (WWP) were some of the most inspiring to Mr. Franklin. I asked about Prince Harry singing to Missy for her 17th Birthday and he just smiled and said “that was totally unexpected.” I love when phenoms happen to be smiling, humble, giving, radiant people derived from smiling, humble, giving, radiant parents. Matt says it right at swim clinics, “If you’re looking for a wonderful female role model in sport, look no further than Missy Franklin.” Well done, Mr. and Mrs. Franklin. She’s a winner in every regard.
Other bleacher epiphanies:
- Swim parents are patient people! Lots and lots of waiting around. Thank you mom, dad, and everyone in my support system for acting like I was not taking forever cooling down, getting a massage, showering and changing. My folks never made me feel like a burden, even though my self-serving schedule was not always most convenient for those who came to watch.
- Fans don’t watch swimming! OK, there are definitely exceptions. But it’s nothing like being on deck, where you’re mentally engaged in practically every race. Fans go to watch one or two races, so if you want to watch every race, you should probably sit alone.
Nationals update:
MG swam the 100 free yesterday and finished 6th in a stacked final. Good enough to make the relay for Worlds next summer! Needed to be top 4 to qualify for Pan-Pac’s in Australia (in 2 weeks!), but he’s got a couple more opportunities to make that meet. He’s going to Russia for Worlds next summer though! That’s worth celebrating.
 |
| Fly away, MG! |
8/12 update:
Matty will be swimming the 400 free relay, 400 medley relay and the 100 back in Australia for Pan-Pacific Championships in two weeks. He swam a dominant 100 back at Nationals, turning in a time ranking him 3rd in the world this year. He’s in a plane to Aussie Land as I write. I’ll be staying home with the pups screaming at my computer as he races.
