Thursday, December 24, 2020
USA Swimmers’ Holiday Wishes Focus on Health, Family and a Return to Normalcy in 2021
Like the rest of the world, USA swimmers and coaches are focused on wishing for the obvious this holiday season.
With the COVID pandemic going strong but a vaccine soon to hit the mainstream population, all are focused on maintaining their own health but also wishing for good health and happiness for their families and friends.
And with Olympic Trials postponed until June 2021, next summer’s Games are also on their minds as they set their goals and make plans for 2021.
Enjoy these holiday wishes from a few current and alumni swimmers and coaches this season.
Dara Torres
“My wish for the holiday is to continue with these vaccinations and try to get some normalcy back in this world, especially for our kids.”
Ella Eastin
“To be fully present with my loved ones and enjoy the simple things. I have learned to appreciate quality time with others so much this year, and I am hoping to carry that with me moving forward in life.”
Michael Andrew
“My wish for the holiday season is less of a wish and more of a focused effort. This season, I’ve become very intentional in focusing on all the blessings in my life and how great this year has been. It’s often difficult to be conscious of the good around us when there has been so much bad taking up our focus. So, I guess if I was to turn that in to a wish, it would be that everybody is able to have a sense of peace this holiday season – as well as having a radical perspective shift to see the good and be reminded of the sweet things that are still present.”
Torri Huske
“My wish for the holiday season/next year is for everyone to stay healthy. I’m hoping that soon the vaccine will be widely distributed so that things can start to return back to normal.”
Ashley Twichell
“My holiday wish is for the continued health of my family and loved ones and the health and safety of all healthcare workers and essential workers.”
Townley Haas
“With everything going on right now, my wish is for everyone to stay healthy and have a safe and happy holiday season.”
Lia Neal
“For COVID to be over and for things to get back to normal.”
Tom Luchsinger
“I've never been more grateful for the health of my family and friends. I wish good health for everyone this holiday season.”
Zane Grothe
“My wish for the holiday season is for all of my friends and family to stay safe. It has been a difficult year to say the least, but it won't be long before things start looking up.”
Cody Miller
“My wish for the holiday season is to get a fun family photo with my new baby. It might sound silly, but we just had our first child one month ago! Ali and I are really excited to start ‘yearly traditions,’ one of which will be a family photo in front of our Christmas tree. I’ll probably try and get the two dogs in it as well!”
Megan (Quann) Jendrick
“The big thing I wish for this holiday season is that people are able to stay safe and remain positive. 2020 has been such a tough year for so many people, and there is so much division everywhere you turn. I just wish for people to take in the season and hopefully find a reason to smile.”
Regan Smith
“My wish for the holiday season is that my friends, family and I continue to stay healthy. Very few people that I am close to have had COVID. I pray that my grandparents stay especially safe and healthy. I’m sad that I can’t see them this Christmas, but I know it’s in their best interest if I stay away.”
Mike Barrowman
“My wish for the holiday season this year is a little selfish. I just want to disengage. I don't want to deal with any business emails or the ongoing crisis in the workplace. I don't want to hear a word about politics. I would very much like to have some great news come along, and enjoy life, family and friends.”
Eric Knowles
“My wish for the holiday season this year is that my family and team remains healthy and well for the remainder of the COVID crisis.”
Abbey Weitzeil
“My wish for this holiday season is snow! I am visiting my boyfriend’s family for the holidays and as silly as it sounds, I’ve never had a White Christmas growing up in SoCal.”
Peter Vanderkaay
“In light of a challenging 2020, I wish that 2021 will be easier for so many people who've struggled in the pandemic. In particular, I know it's been a very challenging year for swimming, and I hope we can get back to normal. I hope that all the athletes will have a fair shot to be at their respective competitions and of course for Tokyo 2021.”
Melanie Margalis
“My wish for this holiday season is that even if people can’t be with their loved ones during this time that they can find happiness where they are.”
Lenny Krayzelburg
“Considering the year we have all lived through, my main wish for the holiday season is to be close to my family, stay healthy and make sure to keep my family safe and healthy.”
Emma Weyant
“This holiday season, I'm really looking forward to getting to spend time with my family since I am at home. I'm also excited to take on winter training with my teammates and put in a good block of work heading into next year.”
Garrett Weber-Gale
“My wish for the holidays this year is to slow down and enjoy all that my family has to be thankful for.”
Jessica (Hardy) Meichtry
“Health and happiness for myself and loved ones. 2020 wasn’t easy on my personal health (recovering from back-to-back pregnancies, broke my elbow and just recently survived COVID) – but things are improving and finding things to be happy about every day has been what made 2020 a year I’ll never forget. It’s been such a blessing to be home with my young kids (1 and 2 years old) so much more than I would have without the pandemic this year. I look forward to continuing to find more joy this holiday season!”
Bob Bowman
“My holiday wish is that all of us can find unexpected blessings in this extremely challenging time. Let’s truly appreciate our sport and the amazing people we share it. Be kind and be well.”
Catherine Fox
“There are so many. The obvious one: people stay safe. It's such a hard time for everyone and my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones and also those in health care who are working tirelessly. I hope the vaccination is healthy and effective. I wish that those who are struggling financially or with social/emotional health issues during this isolating time have the support and comfort that they need. I wish to shed some emotional weight of this pandemic, and physical weight! I wish that my family remains in good spirits, stays safe and enjoys this exceptional time while we have escaped the county's COVID craziness and are living in Barbados for the winter.”
With the COVID pandemic going strong but a vaccine soon to hit the mainstream population, all are focused on maintaining their own health but also wishing for good health and happiness for their families and friends.
And with Olympic Trials postponed until June 2021, next summer’s Games are also on their minds as they set their goals and make plans for 2021.
Enjoy these holiday wishes from a few current and alumni swimmers and coaches this season.
Dara Torres
“My wish for the holiday is to continue with these vaccinations and try to get some normalcy back in this world, especially for our kids.”
Ella Eastin
“To be fully present with my loved ones and enjoy the simple things. I have learned to appreciate quality time with others so much this year, and I am hoping to carry that with me moving forward in life.”
Michael Andrew
“My wish for the holiday season is less of a wish and more of a focused effort. This season, I’ve become very intentional in focusing on all the blessings in my life and how great this year has been. It’s often difficult to be conscious of the good around us when there has been so much bad taking up our focus. So, I guess if I was to turn that in to a wish, it would be that everybody is able to have a sense of peace this holiday season – as well as having a radical perspective shift to see the good and be reminded of the sweet things that are still present.”
Torri Huske
“My wish for the holiday season/next year is for everyone to stay healthy. I’m hoping that soon the vaccine will be widely distributed so that things can start to return back to normal.”
Ashley Twichell
“My holiday wish is for the continued health of my family and loved ones and the health and safety of all healthcare workers and essential workers.”
Townley Haas
“With everything going on right now, my wish is for everyone to stay healthy and have a safe and happy holiday season.”
Lia Neal
“For COVID to be over and for things to get back to normal.”
Tom Luchsinger
“I've never been more grateful for the health of my family and friends. I wish good health for everyone this holiday season.”
Zane Grothe
“My wish for the holiday season is for all of my friends and family to stay safe. It has been a difficult year to say the least, but it won't be long before things start looking up.”
Cody Miller
“My wish for the holiday season is to get a fun family photo with my new baby. It might sound silly, but we just had our first child one month ago! Ali and I are really excited to start ‘yearly traditions,’ one of which will be a family photo in front of our Christmas tree. I’ll probably try and get the two dogs in it as well!”
Megan (Quann) Jendrick
“The big thing I wish for this holiday season is that people are able to stay safe and remain positive. 2020 has been such a tough year for so many people, and there is so much division everywhere you turn. I just wish for people to take in the season and hopefully find a reason to smile.”
Regan Smith
“My wish for the holiday season is that my friends, family and I continue to stay healthy. Very few people that I am close to have had COVID. I pray that my grandparents stay especially safe and healthy. I’m sad that I can’t see them this Christmas, but I know it’s in their best interest if I stay away.”
Mike Barrowman
“My wish for the holiday season this year is a little selfish. I just want to disengage. I don't want to deal with any business emails or the ongoing crisis in the workplace. I don't want to hear a word about politics. I would very much like to have some great news come along, and enjoy life, family and friends.”
Eric Knowles
“My wish for the holiday season this year is that my family and team remains healthy and well for the remainder of the COVID crisis.”
Abbey Weitzeil
“My wish for this holiday season is snow! I am visiting my boyfriend’s family for the holidays and as silly as it sounds, I’ve never had a White Christmas growing up in SoCal.”
Peter Vanderkaay
“In light of a challenging 2020, I wish that 2021 will be easier for so many people who've struggled in the pandemic. In particular, I know it's been a very challenging year for swimming, and I hope we can get back to normal. I hope that all the athletes will have a fair shot to be at their respective competitions and of course for Tokyo 2021.”
Melanie Margalis
“My wish for this holiday season is that even if people can’t be with their loved ones during this time that they can find happiness where they are.”
Lenny Krayzelburg
“Considering the year we have all lived through, my main wish for the holiday season is to be close to my family, stay healthy and make sure to keep my family safe and healthy.”
Emma Weyant
“This holiday season, I'm really looking forward to getting to spend time with my family since I am at home. I'm also excited to take on winter training with my teammates and put in a good block of work heading into next year.”
Garrett Weber-Gale
“My wish for the holidays this year is to slow down and enjoy all that my family has to be thankful for.”
Jessica (Hardy) Meichtry
“Health and happiness for myself and loved ones. 2020 wasn’t easy on my personal health (recovering from back-to-back pregnancies, broke my elbow and just recently survived COVID) – but things are improving and finding things to be happy about every day has been what made 2020 a year I’ll never forget. It’s been such a blessing to be home with my young kids (1 and 2 years old) so much more than I would have without the pandemic this year. I look forward to continuing to find more joy this holiday season!”
Bob Bowman
“My holiday wish is that all of us can find unexpected blessings in this extremely challenging time. Let’s truly appreciate our sport and the amazing people we share it. Be kind and be well.”
Catherine Fox
“There are so many. The obvious one: people stay safe. It's such a hard time for everyone and my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones and also those in health care who are working tirelessly. I hope the vaccination is healthy and effective. I wish that those who are struggling financially or with social/emotional health issues during this isolating time have the support and comfort that they need. I wish to shed some emotional weight of this pandemic, and physical weight! I wish that my family remains in good spirits, stays safe and enjoys this exceptional time while we have escaped the county's COVID craziness and are living in Barbados for the winter.”