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Dear Swimmer Girl

By Donna Hale, SwimSwam, 02/27/19, 12:00PM PST

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Carry those broad shoulders with pride. You earned them over nearly your entire lifetime.

You have been on this journey with me as your sidekick for 15 years. You’ve made me laugh, cry, lose my voice, and fall in love with something I once knew nothing about. Because of you, I am a swim mom.   Leaving conference champs after you had to scratch the last day due to illness, I realized I’ve never thanked you for all you have taught me about resilience, character, and winning with grace and losing with dignity. The lessons could become a book I may one day write, but for now here are the highlights.

1. You’ve shown me how to be a warrior against the things that sometime derail us in life. You’ve dealt with chronic illness, injury, team drama, and more. Yet through it all you never give up, turning obstacles into opportunities.  What an amazing way to live your life.