Coach of Atlanta area Paralympian talks about her world record, Dynamo Swim Club success

It's awesome. I mean, I'm so happy for. I mean, it was an amazing race. She got out there and did everything that she had worked for and and and did everything that we had trained her to do. And it's just a ton of fun watching her out there, just smiling and having a great time. Yeah, this is this is kind of the second major international competition that I've prepared her for and I think you know one of the biggest differences is when she went to London in 2019. I'm not sure how much you followed the practice. Plan that I had given her as well as you know how how seriously she took her preparation once she got over there and you know this time you know the last six or seven months or so. She's really flipped a switch and and her level of focus and her level of training and and you know clearly decided that winning a gold medal and and and breaking the world record was something that she wanted to do. And I think you know that athlete empowerment of when an athlete decides that they want to do something. And they're willing to do whatever it takes to get it is really a powerful thing, and she really did that about six or seven months ago, and it's just been amazing the the level of training that she's done the last couple of months and just her attitude and focus and all that stuff. And like we were touching base every day while she was in training camp. You know, the last the last week or so, you know she was asking questions about workouts and what should I do with this and what should I do with that? Having trouble this time, so that's really had the mindset of of a I was gonna do whatever it takes to get what I what my goals are but be UM the you know no matter no matter what it is I'm willing to stick to the process here and do the training plan and and and what you know you've you've put forth on on how to prepare me and all that stuff so she just did an amazing job. You know, following the plan and sticking to it, and it's been awesome. Uh, yeah, I mean, I think it comes along the same lines. You know, her challenges. You know being visually impaired in and work on a lot of that is more just being able to manage the work on her own. So like she can't see the clock, oftentimes, you know, depending on how the workouts delivered, you know she may not be able to process it in the same way that the other athletes are. So just making sure that she she knows what we're doing at, work out and all that kind of stuff. And then you know having to give a little extra attention of I might have to tell her when to go, versus you know, you know the rest of the kids obviously being able to see the clock clearly can can leave on their own, and doing stuff like that so it changes a little bit of the coach athlete dynamic. But it also creates an interesting dynamic with her and the other kids in the group, and that she has to rely on her teammates a little bit more to know what's going on and to help her during the workout. So there are a lot of times where. You know she's relying on you personally next to her, the person who's going in front of her to know when she's supposed to leave and things like that and her other teammates were just fantastic with that. And you know there were. There were a lot of workouts just based on her being a little different schedule and a little different. Meet different meats that she was focusing on during the summer. Obviously preparing for a meet that obviously the rest of the group wasn't going to come. There were some workouts were just turning I and and you know that. That puts a little bit more of a strain. You know on? OK, I gotta be on top of every single thing that she's doing, because if I don't send her she's just going to sit on the wall for the next 10 to 15 seconds. But you know, I think that's one of the major training aspects. And then as far as competition for her, you know, turns and walls are always the biggest. Uhm, you know, concerned with her having obvious a little bit harder time citing, you know the flags and things like that, so we're having to rely a little more on stroke count a little more in rehearsal. That was one thing that she, I think, the first time she swam in the actual competition pull in Tokyo. I think she ran into the wall a couple times, huh? And if you called me a little panicked about that and just walk her through. Hey look, you just gotta keep practicing until you feel comfortable with it and know that you, you know your account and you know where the wall is and you know. We know exactly where to initiate that turn, and uhm, you know she did that and obviously it worked out really well. Yeah, no, I think it's it's. It's definitely inspiring to to to her teammates as well as some of the younger athletes on the team that she's able to achieve what she's been able to do. And, you know, outside of Paris swimming just in the regular USA Swimming, I mean she's a pretty well accomplished athlete just in that terms. I mean she's a winter juniors qualifier, you know she her. Her times, or are are pretty compatible with some of the top athletes we have on our team, and so I think a lot of the kids are are like wow that she's able to do that even with her disabilities. And you know, I think some of the younger kids I mentioned, you know she was a little bit different. Different training plan. Obviously something we were on break, you know towards the beginning of August, so she had about two weeks where the team was not practicing. It was just her and. Uh, some kids came in some younger kids as well as some kids and peers in her group came in just so that she wouldn't have to practice by herself, and I think that kind of speaks volumes to the level of respect that that the other kids on the team have for her and that they look up to her. Obviously, you know, for Dynamo were just absolutely thrilled. She is a great kid and we just love to see her happy and and then she's fulfilled her greatest dreams. And, you know, as far as the Atlanta student community and in the state of Georgia, I think. Georgia is pretty progressive as far as with Paris swimming. Uh, we have a lot of their athletes. It's actually 4. Georgia, or at least athletes with Georgia ties or Georgia roots on EU S Paralympic swimming team. And I think that goes back to Fred Lambek and some other coaches that you know, fifteen 2025 years ago really made an effort to create any Ave in Georgia for for para athletes. And so I think that that's really, really awesome to see. You know, one get a one one, get a gold medal and break a world record. I think that will inspire other athletes here in Georgia. To get involved with Paris swimming and you know back to back to Dynamo. We we've supported Paris swimming. You know, the entire time I've been here in 10 years and and we've had a good number of para athletes. And and there's always a lot of respect for those athletes and a lot of support coming from all all levels of the program. I was just smiling the whole time. You know I. II tend to get a little nervous, especially. You know when you're at parents, you're actually not allowed to make any noise. And if you know anything about me. As a coach, I'm very vocal and loud on the pool deck and people see me hear me and and no, if my athletes are in the water and so parent means I. I typically tend to have to like bite my heat sheets so I don't make any noise, but you know, not being there and being able to make some noise, it's definitely yelling and screaming at, you know six 6:15 this morning in my apartment. I'm sure I woke my neighbors up for sure, but you know? Last night or the swim, the prelim symbol. It'll nervous just OK. How's it gonna go? And then this morning, after the first 25, I'm like she's got this. This is it's going to be awesome. Like I said I was just smiling the whole time. And you know when I talked to her afterwards, she was just so happy and and the biggest thing. Obviously I'm proud of her for for, you know, breaking the world record and winning a gold medal. But I think the biggest thing from a from, you know, just a maturity in an athlete perspective. I mean she has really just decided that. She's gonna have fun in Tokyo and really soak it all in and not be nervous and not be stressed out and and really enjoy every aspect of it and every moment. And and she, she really has fulfilled that and I think that's why she's swimming so well. She's sounding great time over there. I mean, she said thank you, but I of course I threw it back or say it's all you know you did all the work and it was a pleasure and you know, I I did share with her. You know that a shed a little tear this morning and she was very happy to hear that she's always. You know trying to make me cry in a good way of did you cry and like not to cry? Ah, but this morning I definitely did. Did shed a little bit of a tear so you know and and it was. She was just very grateful for all the work that I had put in and and you know, like I said, she is just enjoying the moment right now, which is great to see. Ah, so she has one more event. She has the 50 free so she's got she has a few days to kind of rest and recover. And then she'll have that 50 freestyle. So it is Sunday in Tokyo, so the prelims will be in for local time. Prelims will be Saturday night and finals Monday morning here, but.