Medals for the Water

Chapter 3

The plane ride to London was exhausting and it took hours. I sat next to my personal coach Boone. Coach Boone has been my swimming coach since I was 8. He was a former medalist in the World Championships but he has never trained an Olympic athlete. 

On the plane ride to London, Coach Boone and I talked about swimming and different strategies reviewing former tips. Before we left Colorado Coach Boone printed out records and information about other country’s swimmers. Chinese girl this and Australian that.

Finally we landed in London. We had a signing immediately at an Olympic welcoming event. We were then shipped on a bus to this Olympic hotel. The whole womans swimming US team was sharing a room. It was huge with like 30 beds and a kitchen, living room, and everything else you would need. I already had gotten close to the other swimmers so it would be a lot of fun staying together. 

ROOMING ASSIGNMENTS:

Mattews/Hersey

Soni/Larson

Schmidt/Vollmer

And the list went on and on…..

My schedule relayed the following:

Day of Arrival:

- Signing at Welcoming Event                                                                      1:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

- Arrive at Hotel (get settled in)                                                                    3:05 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

- Stay at Hotel (pool, waterslides, weightroom, etc.)                                     4:00 p.m. – 6:30 pm.

- Dinner at Hotel Resort (non-formal)                                                           7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

- Quick Meeting will USA swim team                                                            8:05 p.m. – 8:40 p.m.

- In for the night (early rise in morning)                                                         8:50 p.m. --   /////////

By this point in the day I was so ready for the Olympics. After we got settled in, I decided to go down the pool for some practice laps with Kathleen Hersey. We weren’t suppose to train but I needed some extra time. Any time is useful. With only 4 days until my first even, I needed to do nothing but train. Kathleen is a nice friend of mine and we enjoy practicing together.

“AMY! Are you ready?” Kathleen was waiting for me outside our room. I was putting my swim cap on. Grabbing my towel and swim goggles. 

“Lets go” I slung open the door. We waved bye to the rest of the room and headed downstairs to the specially built pool for the Olympic Athletes. See the different countries stay in different Hotel Resorts. This one was designed specially for us to fit our needs and athletic categories. 

The pool was only a 75-meter pool but it was plenty big enough to practice. My coach said I didn’t need the extra time so I let him go do what he wanted. We have all week to practice he “says”.  

Tyler Clary and Ryan Lochte were practicing as well. None of the other woman was besides Hersey and I. I just needed to refresh on my backstroke. Ryan and Tyler had Lanes 3 and 4 so I headed to Lane 2. 

“Amy, I gotta go back upstairs I forgot my goggles.” Kathleen was waving at me and I nodded as I got to the Lane. I knew she forgot something, she was ready too quick.

I put down my stuff and got ready to get on the platform. “Nice to see you again Amy” Ryan winked at me. He is so dang cute! Concentrate Mattews! SWIMMING. “Same to you, Lachte” I smiled and went back to fixing my hair in my cap. I hadn’t seen Phelps since the other day at the stadium back at home. No telling where he was.