Thanks to Courtney at Live Beautiful I am doing 30 days of TRUTH.
Ever since I can remember I loved watching the Olympics, specifically SWIMMING. The 50 free with Matt Biondi, Tom Malchow 100 Fly, Melvin Stewart 100 fly sideways breathing or Janet Evans in the 800 or 1500 free. That was it for me I loved swimming.
My favorite was when Janet would be so humbling in interviews and would just say "I got a song in my head and went for it", wow that was it I remember thinking to myself. Just get a good song and go for it. Okay I will.
When I was 7 years old I started swimming competitively and would listen to my tape player (dated myself) and jump in the pool and go for it. I wanted to be just like Janet Evans, I modeled my swimming style after hers, work ethic and even workout regime. I swam what she swam.
For years I would swim and love it. I went to High School and my event was the 100 fly and 500 Free and occasionally I would do the 200 Free. I loved ever minute from getting on the block and holding until you hear the click of the gun. Each flip turn I would get faster and faster, only using my arms and saving my legs for the final flip. I used others wake to glide through the water, hearing the Cheers and whistles from my coach and mom (hers you could hear through the water) and the cheers as you get to the finish FIRST.
I was of course my worst critic. Just like Janet I would analyze each 50 and 100 seeing where I could improve and then the next day during practice I would work even harder.
I went onto getting a scholarship to USC (didn't go long story) and made it as a walk on to LBCC (coach and I didn't get along).
About 7 years ago I was working at the Aquarium of Pacific in Long Beach at the front desk. A lady (RUDE) walked in and asked to speak to one of special event coordinators, Okay no problem. I asked her name and she said (in the snootiest and rudest way possible, like I supposed to know who she was) and she said Janet...Janet EVANS. Okay I said one moment. BTW still hadn't clicked um HELLO THIS IS YOUR IDOL YOUR SWIMMING HERO. Nope not even a doh moment.
Until she left and the coordinator said wow she is such a #$%^&. I agree and then said "WHO is she?". That's Janet Evans was her reply. OMG at that moment my heart shattered. I had just met my idol and she was disappointing among other things. At that moment I knew I never wanted to meet another "Hero" again, not that I have anymore.
It was crushing and something I still remember each detail. How can someone of that talent be such a disappointment or have such hatred in her heart. It turned out that she at her wedding had a major meltdown towards a bridesmaid and went on a rant that lasted an hour. Turns out that even the most dedicated and gifted have bad days and are not what they seem.
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