Swimming, Friendship, and the Joy of Nationals

What an incredible group of athletes!

Participating in the National Masters Swimming Championships in Federal Way was an experience I’ll treasure for years to come. I not only swam my races—I got to know the amazing people on my team. Some never left the water after college; others took decades off to raise families before finding their way back to the pool. No matter the path, we were all there for the same reason: the love of the water.

One of the most inspiring people I met was Susan from Pennsylvania. In her eighties, she started competing when her daughter invited her to a Masters meet in San Diego. Almost every day during Nationals, we crossed paths, and she’d check in—asking what race I had that day and how I was feeling. Her kindness was a steady comfort in the sea of pre-race jitters.

And those jitters were real. It’s nerve-wracking to wait for your race to be called. But in my last race, I had a surprise boost: my cousin Edmund and his family came to cheer me on. Their little girl brought pom-poms and handmade signs. When I glanced up into the spectator stands and saw them waving, I couldn’t help but smile, nerves melting away.

Another bright spot was my dear friend Nancy, who’s in her 90s and lives an hour away. She made the trip to watch me swim, then treated me to lunch at a Korean restaurant afterward. Over steaming bowls of ginseng chicken soup, she told me to think of the Lord while I swam. When I reheated the leftovers later that night, I discovered a piece of ginseng at the bottom of the container and thought, “This will give me power for tomorrow!”

In the end, I placed first in my heat and ranked in the top ten nationally in my age group. I was exhausted, but the recognition lit a new spark in me. Now I’m back at practice with fresh enthusiasm. I was equally inspired watching my teammates compete. Even when a race didn’t go as hoped, the sportsmanship was palpable. Many swam six or more events—while I “only” did four, and that felt like plenty!

On my rest day, I explored a little of the Pacific Northwest, visiting the Rhododendron Garden and the Pacific Bonsai Museum. It struck me how swimming has opened doors to places and experiences I might never have sought out on my own.

I wouldn’t have come to Federal Way if it weren’t for the meet—but I left with more than just race times. I left with new friendships, beautiful memories, and a deeper love for the sport.