Unexpected Greatness

SwimSwam welcomes reader submissions about all topics aquatic, and if it’s well-written and well-thought, we might just post it under our “Shouts from the Stands” series. We don’t necessarily endorse the content of the Shouts from the Stands posts, and the opinions remain those of their authors. If you have thoughts to share, please send [email protected].

This “Shouts from the Stands” submission comes from Lutnya Bogdanova, a 15-year-old swimmer who competes for Riptide Aquatics in Lakeland, Florida.

At my summer Age Group Championship Meet, they had added 50 events for 13-14-year-olds to swim. I decided to swim the 50 fly because it is one of my best 50 events, not knowing what was to come.

Its the day of my favorite event: the 50 fly. Many would expect there to be jitters running throughout my entire body, but I felt relaxed about this race… for some reason. Something in my body told me “You got this” and so I just swam it. I touch the wall, look at the board, and it’s a best time! “SWEET,” I tell myself. I go up to my coach and he is happy with it, even though I had a few mistakes. He was certain I would make finals. At that point I got nervous. I was curious as to what place I would get in an event I haven’t swum in two years. I got so nervous, I started watching all the remaining heats of the 50 fly. Afterwards, I was certain I was to make at least top 16.

15 minutes later, the MeetMobile results come out. My jaw dropped and was visually stunning. Not only did I manage to get top 16, I got 8th. I managed to make the ‘A’ Final. I told my parents and coach with so much joy, I thought I was going to burst. This was the highest I have ever placed at these kinds of meets, but I know I have to just wait until finals for the true results. While I was resting up, I thought extra hard about what to think about while in that race. “Don’t breathe, kick hard and fast, fling your arms around fast.” Those thoughts all followed me to finals warm-ups. Those same three phrases were just stuck in my brain like it was a fly trap.

After warm-ups, I started getting the jitters. I spaced myself out from everyone but my family and coach. I was getting super anxious about a race that would last 30 seconds. It also hit me then that my race was the very first heat of the meet. That helped me ease down a little bit. My coach gave me a well-needed pep talk, reminding me of what to think about. I nodded quietly and made my way over to the blocks. Behind the blocks, I made myself realize how I have made it this far. How much time and effort I put in to be at that spot I was at. Before I could daze off, the official blew the whistle to get ready.

I got into focus immediately. I waited for that second whistle for so long. He blew his second whistle and I was up. First two things to come up to my mind was: “You got this,” and, “Remember what Coach said.” The rush was going through my entire body. “Take Your Mark.” My hands grip so hard onto the block that I thought my fingers were going to fall off. The signal goes off, and I am off. I felt like I was a rocket going off that block. The adrenaline was pumping through as I kicked the perfect amount of kicks I needed. I take my first strokes and I was just flying (literally). I then take the one breath I needed, and I saw them. I saw my coach and sister cheering me on, telling me to keep it up. I held my head down the rest of the race and just kicked and pulled. I thought I was about to vomit and pass out from everything. As I took my final stroke in, I touched the wall so hard, I thought I had broken the wall. I knew the race was close, but I just had to see soon what my time was. I turn to look and tears of joy start to flow. Not only did I manage to drop another second from my time in the morning, I also went up to 5th place: three spots higher than my seed. I was just crying tears of happiness. I couldn’t believe it that I ACTUALLY did it. When I came up to my coach, he gave me the biggest hug ever, telling me he got nervous for me. I felt such a wave of relief after all that, with the addition of many smiles.

After that race, I come to see how much time and effort I put in to do such thing. I worked out all summer, with 2 practices daily and occasional gym workouts. If I had done one thing different as to how hard I swam those sets I did, I would have never done what I have done. Those sets had made me the swimmer I am today. While I would see visions of what I would have wanted to happen, that race that day, as I would call it, was an “unexpected greatness” I had and I have always hoped for more. Hope this summer goes even better!

ABOUT LUTNYA BOGDANOVA

Lutnya Bogdanova is 15 years old and currently swims for Riptide Aquatics and Lakeland Senior High in Lakeland, Florida. She has been swimming since she was two years old and has “loved every moment of this sport.” In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, making art, cooking for others, and hanging out with her friends and family. She hopes to make it big in the sport one day and go professional.