Thursday, February 4, 2021
My Why: Savannah Skow, Amanda Kendall & Nathan Adrian
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 Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, 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.
Savannah Skow | Las Cruces Aquatic Team swimmer (age 13) | Las Cruces, NM
I have been in the water since I was an infant. I started out with group swimming lessons and then moved on to private swim lessons, until I decided that competitive swimming suits me. I began competing at age 8 and haven’t looked back.
As a military kid and moving many times, swimming has been a constant for me. I’ve gotten to swim for teams in Virginia and Ohio, and now I proudly represent Las Cruces Aquatic Team in New Mexico and train in the team’s top group.
During my younger age-group years, I accomplished a lot by achieving some of my bigger goals, such as getting my first AAA time and breaking a team record. Then I had a major health setback in January of 2020 that left me in the intensive care unit for three weeks and took me a long time to recover, especially due to my asthma. But my love for swimming and my team actually helped me with my recovery, both physically and mentally.
When I was well enough, I went back to training and was able to get some best times before quarantine hit. Since then, I have been dedicated to my training and have gotten more best times at the one and only meet I’ve had this current season. I can’t wait to compete again.
As a biracial athlete, I am proud to help expand this diverse community in swimming and be a role model to others. I couldn’t imagine a life without swimming because it is a part of me. I am grateful for my coach because he pushes me to be my best and for my parents for supporting me through my swim journey. I still have more big goals and hope to one day follow my mom’s footsteps and swim for Princeton.
Amanda Kendall | U.S. National Team swimmer | Fairfax, VA
I started swimming when I was 7 years old. My brother and I always used to see our neighbors walking to the summer league pool and we wanted to know what it was all about. I’ll never forget my first swim practice. I was tall for my age, so they just threw me in with the big kids, and the coach said a 100 freestyle for warmup. I just looked up at him and said, “What’s freestyle?” They moved me down and I was able to properly learn all four strokes. From there on, you just couldn’t get me out of the water.
I slowly stopped competing in the other sports I was doing at the time and started year-round swimming shortly after. I grew this big love for the sport. The friends you make that turn into family members. All the hard work and dedication to get the end results that you want. The coaches that help you inside of the pool but also outside of the pool to just become an all-around better person.
That’s why I want to become a swim coach, so in the future I can help other athletes with anything they need help with and, obviously, to make them a faster swimmer.
I love this sport so much, and hopefully I continue to get better with a stopwatch in my hand.
Nathan Adrian | U.S. National Team swimmer | Bremerton, WA
Ever since a young age, swimming has just been my sport. I feel at home in the water. I feel very connected, and it’s also a great place to escape. When you jump in, all you hear is the water going over your ears, going over your cap. You feel so free.
Even though it’s a tough day with a lot going on outside of the pool, jumping in the water is always just a great feeling. Unless, of course, it’s really early and the heater at the pool is broken. That’s not ever very fun.
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 Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, 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.
Savannah Skow | Las Cruces Aquatic Team swimmer (age 13) | Las Cruces, NM
I have been in the water since I was an infant. I started out with group swimming lessons and then moved on to private swim lessons, until I decided that competitive swimming suits me. I began competing at age 8 and haven’t looked back.
As a military kid and moving many times, swimming has been a constant for me. I’ve gotten to swim for teams in Virginia and Ohio, and now I proudly represent Las Cruces Aquatic Team in New Mexico and train in the team’s top group.
During my younger age-group years, I accomplished a lot by achieving some of my bigger goals, such as getting my first AAA time and breaking a team record. Then I had a major health setback in January of 2020 that left me in the intensive care unit for three weeks and took me a long time to recover, especially due to my asthma. But my love for swimming and my team actually helped me with my recovery, both physically and mentally.
When I was well enough, I went back to training and was able to get some best times before quarantine hit. Since then, I have been dedicated to my training and have gotten more best times at the one and only meet I’ve had this current season. I can’t wait to compete again.
As a biracial athlete, I am proud to help expand this diverse community in swimming and be a role model to others. I couldn’t imagine a life without swimming because it is a part of me. I am grateful for my coach because he pushes me to be my best and for my parents for supporting me through my swim journey. I still have more big goals and hope to one day follow my mom’s footsteps and swim for Princeton.
Amanda Kendall | U.S. National Team swimmer | Fairfax, VA
I started swimming when I was 7 years old. My brother and I always used to see our neighbors walking to the summer league pool and we wanted to know what it was all about. I’ll never forget my first swim practice. I was tall for my age, so they just threw me in with the big kids, and the coach said a 100 freestyle for warmup. I just looked up at him and said, “What’s freestyle?” They moved me down and I was able to properly learn all four strokes. From there on, you just couldn’t get me out of the water.
I slowly stopped competing in the other sports I was doing at the time and started year-round swimming shortly after. I grew this big love for the sport. The friends you make that turn into family members. All the hard work and dedication to get the end results that you want. The coaches that help you inside of the pool but also outside of the pool to just become an all-around better person.
That’s why I want to become a swim coach, so in the future I can help other athletes with anything they need help with and, obviously, to make them a faster swimmer.
I love this sport so much, and hopefully I continue to get better with a stopwatch in my hand.
Nathan Adrian | U.S. National Team swimmer | Bremerton, WA
Ever since a young age, swimming has just been my sport. I feel at home in the water. I feel very connected, and it’s also a great place to escape. When you jump in, all you hear is the water going over your ears, going over your cap. You feel so free.
Even though it’s a tough day with a lot going on outside of the pool, jumping in the water is always just a great feeling. Unless, of course, it’s really early and the heater at the pool is broken. That’s not ever very fun.