University of Tennessee Athletics
LADY VOL SWIMMING AND DIVING DIARY- ASHLEY QUINN
November 28, 2006 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Nov. 28, 2006
We traveled to Minnesota for our last meet before the holiday break last week. It was an exciting time, I felt good, and I was ready to swim some of my best times. The meet was amazing. The girls were energetic, it was a fast meet, and everyone was doing so well!
I, on the other hand, was not doing as well as I had hoped for. I was swimming fine, but not near where I wanted to be. It was on the third day of the meet when I swam my 100y freestyle (which I like to consider my best event) that I hit rock bottom. I climbed out of the pool only to find I went two seconds slower than I had wanted to go. I walked over to Jen, attempting to choke back tears and listened as she told me her thoughts on my race.
I came back to finals that night knowing that I would swim the 100y free again in a relay. After talking to Jen, I found out I was swimming anchor, a spot that I am definitely not used to. I went up behind the blocks with dread in my heart. I did not want to go slow and I did not want to have a bad turn. I could picture myself walking up to Jen and being disappointed again, but then I looked around and saw my team. I saw half the girls huddling behind the blocks, and the others boosting morale with high fives and saying things like, "I am just going to swim out of my mind and go as fast as I possibly can."
And that is when it hit me. It did not matter what I wanted to do, it was not just about me, it was about what I had to do for my team. Going slow was not an option. I realized that wanting it for myself was not enough. My energy was growing and I noticed that our relay was tied with Nebraska right next to us; It was going to be a race. I looked over at the Nebraska swimmer and in my head thought to myself, "I own you." And for the first time, I jumped off the blocks with more confidence than I have ever had in myself and in my team.
I got out of the water and walked over to Jen, not in disappointment but with a feeling of greatness. She told me my time and I cried. I split my fastest time that I had ever gone in a 100y free.
I felt like my last swim in Minnesota was a small glimpse of what is to come. Swimming for me is not easy. I struggle, but after this meet I know what it feels like to take myself out of my struggle and just do it. We are about to enter the most challenging training of our season but I know with the challenges of working hard will come benefits in my races. I plan to go into training head on with no fear and train with purpose.
I know I have an amazing team to work for and I expect nothing less from them! It will be money.
