A Letter to My Parents: From a Retired Swimmer
For some reason, a simple “thank you” does not encompass all of the gratitude that you deserve. When I was a young athlete, I did not see all of the sacrifices you made. I did not notice the early mornings you endured, the weekends you gave up, or the quiet ways you rearranged your own lives so that I could chase my goals. At the time, it all felt normal. Practice, meets, long drives, and packed bags were simply part of my world. I never stopped to consider that you were the ones carrying the weight behind the scenes.
Now that I am older, I see it all differently. I realize what it meant for you to sit in the stands for hours just to watch a single heat of the mile. I understand the patience it took to cheer me on when things did not go my way, and the strength it required to hold back your own worries so I could stay focused on mine. I know now that behind every practice I swam there were sacrifices made. Financial sacrifices. Personal sacrifices. Sacrifices of time and energy that I did not have the maturity to recognize at the time.
You are the reason I was able to fall in love with this sport. You are the reason I learned how to push through hard days, to keep showing up when things felt impossible, and to celebrate the small victories along the way. Swimming shaped me, but it was your support that made it possible. Every lesson I carry with me from the pool such as discipline, resilience, perseverance, and joy was first taught by you through your actions. You showed me what commitment really looks like, not through speeches but through the example you set every single day.
Looking back, the medals and ribbons do not stand out the way the memories do. I remember the car rides filled with laughter, the pep talks when I was ready to quit, and the look of pride in your eyes no matter the outcome. I remember the way you celebrated the small steps forward and encouraged me after every setback. Those moments made a deeper impact on me than any best time ever could. I remember how you made me feel like I was enough, win or lose. That unconditional support is the greatest gift I have ever been given.
When I think about my swimming journey now, I realize the sport was never just mine. It was ours. Every milestone was built on the foundation you created, and every accomplishment was shared because you were the ones who made it possible. It was not just me putting in the work, but all of us. You carried me when I was tired, you believed in me when I was doubtful, and you gave me the chance to experience a sport that shaped the person I am today.
Swimming has always been more than the hours spent in the pool. It was the way you showed me that dedication requires sacrifice, that success is not measured only by results, and that joy comes from the journey as much as the destination. These are lessons that extend far beyond sport. I use them in my daily life now, whether it is in my career, my relationships, or simply in the way I approach challenges. In many ways, I realize that my swimming career never really ended. It continues to live on in who I am and how I move through the world.
So while “thank you” feels too small, it is the best place to start. Thank you for every mile driven, every alarm set, every meet volunteered, and every sacrifice made quietly in the background. Thank you for loving me through the highs and lows, and for teaching me that my value was never tied to a scoreboard. Thank you for being the steady presence that allowed me to take risks, chase goals, and find confidence in myself.
I may be retired from the sport, but I will never retire from carrying the lessons you gave me. Your support is the legacy behind my swimming career, and it will always be the current that guides me forward. Long after the medals have tarnished and the records have been broken, what remains is the gratitude I have for everything you gave. That is something I will never stop carrying with me.