Competitive Swimming has been a part of my life since childhood. I can understand why my mother selected it for our family. She could get all the kids to one practice, at one time, all in one place with other adults yelling at us to keep going for two whole hours. What’s not for a mother to love?
Swimming gave me many benefits. I made some great friends who were really focused. The long time in the pool also meant being smart about schoolwork. I earned money lifeguarding, teaching swim lessons and coaching. Swimming meant I had confidence for the related sports of water skiing, sailing, and scuba diving. At the Naval Academy, due to my skill level, I was able to skip the mandatory swimming lessons all naval officers must complete prior to graduation as well as the required 30 minute drown (swimming for 30 minutes in a working uniform) as it was affectionately called, which was relatively easy.
I didn’t anticipate though how my swimming skill would open a door to serve and have fun with some amazing people at my first duty station in the Philippines.
Swimming laps and maintaining my workouts was part of my daily routine in my early naval days. I recall one day while in the pool, I sensed someone else in the lane beside me pushing to keep up and beat my pace. I, of course, returned the push. When I got out of the pool, I realized that all the fellow lap swimmers were part of a SEAL Unit doing their team workout.
It doesn’t take much to recognize Navy SEALs, even when they aren’t in uniform and only sporting their beige UDT swim trunks.
Back in 1981, the Philippine Navy and US Navy held quarterly Mutual Defense Base Meetings. In addition to the official meetings with the senior officers present, there were sport competitions and shared meals together, all in the interest of building mutual respect and friendship with each other. One of the sports competitions was swimming.
As part of the staff for Commander, US Naval Forces, Philippines, my swimming ability was brought to the attention of the admiral since the N1 (admin/personnel) was a Navy SEAL. When the US team was assembled to represent, it seemed obvious that the bulk of the US Navy team was composed of SEALs; oh, and me.
My presence in the pool took some getting used to for the Philippine Navy swimmers. Keep in mind that at that time, there were few, if any female naval officers in their navy. I think I was too naive to notice any of the other swimmers’ concerns. I just wanted to win. No one was mean, but there were alot of cameras taking my picture. Awkward.
The events were limited and I was entered in 2 breaststroke events – 50 and 100 meters. All I have to remember the events is a picture with my US team mates and the 2 certificates I received for first runner up (2nd place) and second runner up (3rd place).
Those who beat me were US SEALs, though I did place ahead of all the other men in the race. I am pretty sure the Philippine naval officers who were in the pool probably took no small grief from being beaten by a woman. I am sure this proved a bit of a challenge to the male ego.
After that meet, I continued to swim with SEALs and would often be asked to join them for their run around the naval air station runway strip. I always declined the run. I knew going with what you’re good at is the best lane to swim in.
So fun to read this, Mary! and I love your final line! I remember only once winning from a boy – I was 16. I was swimming a km in a lake with poor visibility. My way of competing was to try and catch up with the one just ahead of me and that’s what I did then too. Had I known that I was trying to catch up and bypass a boy I would have left well enough alone. Winning from him taught me never to assume something is impossible.
Not knowing is sometimes an advantage to success.