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Summer 2008 has almost ended taking the heated
sun away from Southern California.
Today is the final championship-swimming event
at Glendora. The crowd gathered around Glendora swimming pool with chairs, beach towels,
and cheering sounds as Glendora
swim team approached the podium.
The competitors are between 6 years old to 18 years old. They all wore red and black swimming
suit and black cap with red letters FHAQ (Foot Hill Aquatic).
The announcer called for event #7, girls,
six-year old, 25 yard, backstroke. Little girls jumped in the pool,
hanged on the wall, and prepared for their positions. These kids struggled with their
backstroke event; they slithered like little snakes in the river. But, none of them gave up. They reached the end of the pool
holding backstroke all the way.
Next event, 25 yard, breaststroke.
The young athletes hurried to take their positions on the diving
board. "Whistle blow; on your
mark; go!" They transformed
into little dolphins diving off the board into the swimming pool,
spreading their feet, stroking their arms, and finally reaching the wall
with big smiles on their faces.
Ignoring the referees who had clocked their times and records,
climbing up the swimming pool, they ran straight to their parents with
cheering, jumping, hugging, and high fives. To these young athletes, it was not
about whose touched the wall first, but it was all about the joy that
they were able to reach the finish line.
One even said, "I had zero energy left in my body." But, when the announcer called for
event #32, girls, six-year old, 50 yard, free-style, again, they were
hurried to take their positions on the diving board with 100% of their
energy recharged within 30 minutes.
Once again, these young athletes performed their best in the swimming
pool, finishing their race with prides.
Have anyone seen a group of 6 years old kids on butterfly stroke
race? They did not have the
muscles to swing their arms high up in the air; nevertheless, they could
hold their breath extremely long and kicked their feet up and down. It was fascinating watching them just
like you were watching a group of little mermaid playing under the
water. Once, climbing out of the
pool, they stood by the pool and cheered for their teammates. They were anxiously waiting for their
next events in the pool. All day,
the kids continued with their individual and relay events.
At the end of the day, a ceremony was held
honoring their accomplishments in 2008 Summer Swim Team. These young athletes were thrilled to
receive medals and among them were my twin daughters. They brought their ribbons to us and
said, "Mom, Dad, look, we got ribbons and so are my friends (Big
smile)!"
The 2008 Summer Swim Team has concluded. These energetic athletes were happy to
receive ribbons for their hard works through out summer. To them, it was not how many medals
they received; or what color of the medals they received; it was the
accomplishment because they finished their races with prides, especially,
they did not give up any event.
This is sportsmanship spirit and marked an end to summer
2008.
On
diving board, waiting for whistle,
Are we
nervous? Just a little
On your
mark, whistle blows
Diving
in the pool, here we go
One
more stroke, finishing 25 yard
It is
the end of the pool, not that far
We can
swing our arms up and down
Like a
windmill round and round
With
our feet, we kick so fast
In the
pool, water splash, splash, splash!
With
our hands, we touch the wall
Move
our goggles, lift our heads tall,
Here we
are, finish our race
Cheering
sound, big smile on our face.
Ung Suy Phan 潘翠膺
California, U.S.A., 18/08/2008
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