Eight NYAC swimmers will be competing at the 2012 Olympic Trials in Montreal from March 27 to April 1, 2012. See the meet information here: http://www.swimtrials.ca/

Among them is Jeffrey Turnock, who has written a fantastic article below, on what motivated him, and what it takes, to make it to the Olympic Trials.

Joining Jeffrey at the trials are Alexander Hamilton, Caitlin Hodge, Teddy Kalp, Nick Karpov, Jocelyn Langballe, Eduardo Toro and Michelle Williams.

Congratulations and good luck to all the NYAC swimmers at the trials!

 

Journey to the Trials
by Jeffrey Turnock

There are many things that a competitive swimmer needs to have. Endurance, strength and technique are a few examples.  But there is one thing that can’t be taught by a coach or acquired through training, and that’s the will to succeed.

Four years ago, I was fortunate enough to be a part of the NYAC spirit team at the Olympic Trials. It was an experience that I will never forget.  A sort of fellowship was developed among us, as we cheered for all the NYAC swimmers competing for a position on the Olympic team, and when Julia Wilkinson qualified, all of us felt a sense of achievement and pride for our club. It was then, as I watched these elite swimmers pushing themselves to their limit, that I found my will to succeed.

When I returned, I had a new attitude towards swimming. I made it my goal to become one of those swimmers competing at a national level. Having never shown enthusiasm in swimming before, and not being particularly talented, my parents were surprised by this new resolve. But from then on, I would train with the attitude that I imagined swimmers like Julia Wilkinson would have.

This work ethic paid off, and within a year, I not only made my provincial times, but I also qualified for Age Group Nationals. It wasn’t all smooth sailing however, as I faced plenty of challenges in the following years. Managing school work, staying positive after swimming badly, injuries and sickness, are just some of the problems that all athletes have to deal with. With the help of my fellow swimmers and my coaches, I stayed motivated and kept working towards my goal.

Fast forward to this year and I still had that very same goal in my mind. With just half a year left to qualify, I would have to push myself to my limit. It was the National group swimmers and Coach Murray who helped me do this, constantly challenging me to be the best that I could be in every practice. I finally qualified for the Olympic Trials at the Eastern Championships, making the cut down to the millisecond, just a month before trials.

It started as just a goal, a dream. NYAC gives you the tools you need to climb to the highest levels of competitive swimming. All you need is the commitment to work hard, and the will to succeed.