Amidst the sea of Nadador blue and gold at the “Swim-A-Thon” this weekend, I spotted a recent graduate of the Nadadores Swim School. Livia Thomas was decked out from head to toe in Nadadores gear, dressed the part for her first official event as a Novice team member.

When I saw Livia from across the deck, she was climbing out of the pool after finishing her very first “Swim-A-Thon.” The huge smile stretching across her face told me that she must have really enjoyed her first Novice event. When I went over to say hello I asked her how it went. Maintaining her huge, happy smile, she told me that she swam 100 laps!

I wished at that moment that I had more than a high-five to give her. I was so proud of her and told her how amazing she was! Livia started in our program as an intermediate swimmer and had worked so hard during her time in Swim School to reach her goal of making it onto the Swim Team. A week’s worth of Novice Team practice and 100 laps later, I think it was safe to say she had reached her goal!

It is the intent of the Nadadores Swim School to provide a safe, fun and educational environment that helps kids to become comfortable in the water, as well as reaching the goals that they set for themselves. Like Livia, we have many swimmers participating at all different levels in our program who have the goal to make it to the Novice Team. For many of the Nadadores Swim School athletes, getting that blue competition suit with the Nadadores logo represents receiving a ‘trophy’ they have had their eye on for quite some time.

Though their trophies will begin to take on different shapes and sizes as they continue to reach new goals, they will continue to ‘wear’ their first trophy proudly as they compete for the Nadadores. One level at a time, we are ‘building’ the Nadador family.

So, take a minute to come on up to the teaching pool and check out what our future Olympians are up to; some of them are blowing some serious bubbles, others are mastering their back floats - and together as a Swim School we are learning along the way what it means to be a part of the Nadador tradition.

Kristen Orr, MVN Swim School Director
May 2008