How lucky am I that I not only got to watch my niece, Micah, compete in not one but two major swim meets this month? I saw her place 3rd in the 100M breast stroke at the US Nationals at the beginning of the month, which placed her on the US National team to compete in the Pan Pacific swim meet this past week. Just hours ago I watched her place second in her 200M prelim (right behind Rebecca Soni), just miss the cut to race in the A Final (once again, Amanda Beard edges her out - ARGH!!!), but she placed first in the B Final, and managed to not only improve her time, but beat the time of one of the swimmers from the A Final. Wow! I have to say that I am pretty f*@$ing lucky, yesiree!!!
It was amazing to see the likes of Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps, Rebecca Soni, and Natalie Coughlin among others swim, in person, not on TV! But, I have to admit that I was more awe struck from watching my niece swim. I remember when she was little (well, I guess this rings true for all of my 8 nieces and nephews), I would think to myself, 'I can't wait until she gets older and I can have a real conversation with her.' It never crossed my mind all those years ago that I'd be thinking to myself, 'I can't wait to see Micah swim in the National / Pan Pacific (maybe even the Olympics?) swim meet and ask her how it felt to win.' How on earth did that little person running around my parents' house 18 years ago become this 6' tall swimming awesomeness?!? It blows my mind.
Anyway, the US, of course, won the whole thing. Some athletes/countries gave us a good run for the money in a few events. I have to say that swim fans are pretty mild - no drunken hooligans up in the stands getting rowdy and throwing things or throwing up. Everyone was nice and orderly.
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