Wednesday, January 6, 2021
My Why: Carson Bauer, Rowdy Gaines & Marianne Reguero
Some sage soul, possibly Rowdy Gaines, once mused, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
At this point, our hearts are to the point of bursting with pent-up fondness — and longing — for the pool. Continued and extended periods of quarantine have distanced us from the comfort of chlorine during the 'Rona’s reign, affecting all members of the swim community — athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, family and supporters alike.
We’ve missed the big moments: postponed U.S. Team Trials and 2020 Olympic Games Tokyo, as well as hundreds of cancelled international, national and local age group meets.
We’ve missed the little moments: obligatory groans at early-morning practice, the communal joy of a dropped tenth, as well as hundreds of laughs, hugs, cheers and tears.
Of course, these aren’t actually the little moments. The relationships, the bonds, the empathy and the love are the true comforts of chlorine.
"My Why" is a series of candid testimonials from individuals who believe in the power of swimming. Their passion for the sport is infectious.
Carson Bauer | Monocacy Aquatic Club swimmer (age 18) | Knoxville, MD
I remember from a young age loving the water. Long before I started swimming competitively, it’s where I felt I belonged. My competitive swim journey began when I was seven. I started swimming for my local summer league team in Brunswick, MD. I swam a few summers there before realizing this is the sport I wanted to be a part of for the rest of my life.
I think I speak for most people when I say I have a love-hate relationship with the sport. It’s one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding. Working so hard for a goal and meeting that goal in a race is the best feeling I’ve ever experienced.
During these difficult times, I’ve been given the opportunity to reflect and realize how much appreciation I have for this sport. I’ve been itching to race in a meet again since February.
I also believe that the coaches and friendships I have today are a huge piece of why swimming is so special to me. I’ve never been closer with any other group of people. I owe a lot of who I am today to swimming.
Rowdy Gaines | USA Swimming Foundation Ambassador, television analyst | Lake Mary, FL
My swimming journey started two ways. One was learning to swim as a nine-month-old growing up in Winter Haven, FL. The second was starting a competitive career as a 17-year-old in high school.
I decided to start swimming because I had been cut from five different sports in high school. It was the next sport up. And, of course, swimming changed my life forever. I owe more to the sport than I could ever imagine and will never be able to repay the incredible gifts it has given me.
Marianne Reguero | swim parent | Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
My swim journey began when I was about 6-years-old. I grew up in the Midwest and my three brothers and I swam on the local club swim. I have great memories swimming.
Push forward many years and now I have kids of my own. Both of my kids started swimming around age six, as well. Samantha — now 17 and a junior in high school — still swims year-round for a local club swim team in Orange County and also for her high school. She took up water polo for her high school last year and loves that, as well. My son stopped swimming a couple years ago and took up running and basketball.
I loved watching and cheering my kids and their teammates on. Loved watching them get out of the pool with a smile on, knowing they just gave it their all.
Swimming has always been one of my favorite sports and has so many benefits in my opinion, the first being safety. It's so important for us to teach our kids when they’re babies how to swim. This is a life-saving skill and sport. It's also amazing exercise and helps with social skills.
Being a swimmer isn't easy. It requires so much dedication, year-round. Swimmers also need to be organized and very good at time management. These are all awesome qualities and benefit swimmers later on in life.
At this point, our hearts are to the point of bursting with pent-up fondness — and longing — for the pool. Continued and extended periods of quarantine have distanced us from the comfort of chlorine during the 'Rona’s reign, affecting all members of the swim community — athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, family and supporters alike.
We’ve missed the big moments: postponed U.S. Team Trials and 2020 Olympic Games Tokyo, as well as hundreds of cancelled international, national and local age group meets.
We’ve missed the little moments: obligatory groans at early-morning practice, the communal joy of a dropped tenth, as well as hundreds of laughs, hugs, cheers and tears.
Of course, these aren’t actually the little moments. The relationships, the bonds, the empathy and the love are the true comforts of chlorine.
"My Why" is a series of candid testimonials from individuals who believe in the power of swimming. Their passion for the sport is infectious.
Carson Bauer | Monocacy Aquatic Club swimmer (age 18) | Knoxville, MD
I remember from a young age loving the water. Long before I started swimming competitively, it’s where I felt I belonged. My competitive swim journey began when I was seven. I started swimming for my local summer league team in Brunswick, MD. I swam a few summers there before realizing this is the sport I wanted to be a part of for the rest of my life.
I think I speak for most people when I say I have a love-hate relationship with the sport. It’s one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding. Working so hard for a goal and meeting that goal in a race is the best feeling I’ve ever experienced.
During these difficult times, I’ve been given the opportunity to reflect and realize how much appreciation I have for this sport. I’ve been itching to race in a meet again since February.
I also believe that the coaches and friendships I have today are a huge piece of why swimming is so special to me. I’ve never been closer with any other group of people. I owe a lot of who I am today to swimming.
Rowdy Gaines | USA Swimming Foundation Ambassador, television analyst | Lake Mary, FL
My swimming journey started two ways. One was learning to swim as a nine-month-old growing up in Winter Haven, FL. The second was starting a competitive career as a 17-year-old in high school.
I decided to start swimming because I had been cut from five different sports in high school. It was the next sport up. And, of course, swimming changed my life forever. I owe more to the sport than I could ever imagine and will never be able to repay the incredible gifts it has given me.
Marianne Reguero | swim parent | Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
My swim journey began when I was about 6-years-old. I grew up in the Midwest and my three brothers and I swam on the local club swim. I have great memories swimming.
Push forward many years and now I have kids of my own. Both of my kids started swimming around age six, as well. Samantha — now 17 and a junior in high school — still swims year-round for a local club swim team in Orange County and also for her high school. She took up water polo for her high school last year and loves that, as well. My son stopped swimming a couple years ago and took up running and basketball.
I loved watching and cheering my kids and their teammates on. Loved watching them get out of the pool with a smile on, knowing they just gave it their all.
Swimming has always been one of my favorite sports and has so many benefits in my opinion, the first being safety. It's so important for us to teach our kids when they’re babies how to swim. This is a life-saving skill and sport. It's also amazing exercise and helps with social skills.
Being a swimmer isn't easy. It requires so much dedication, year-round. Swimmers also need to be organized and very good at time management. These are all awesome qualities and benefit swimmers later on in life.