By: Benjamin  He

I started swimming when I was seven years old. My younger sister started a couple years later. While we both swam, it eventually became clear that my sister had a knack for it, and I didn’t.

Some people might’ve quit at that point. It was clear I was an average swimmer, and my schedule was already cluttered, so taking swimming out might’ve given me some breathing room.

But I jumped back in the water anyway.

I’m not sure what motived me at the time. Maybe it was the promise of friends. Maybe I just liked water. Maybe it was the simple, nagging voice in the back of my head telling me that a younger sibling being better than me at something was unacceptable.

So, I kept swimming.

What does my saga have to do with the Olympics? Can you even compare a random kid’s pseudo-inspirational sob story to a multimillion-dollar global sports event?

The thing is, we’re all just doing sports, whether you’re a professional athlete or just an average swimmer like me. The Olympics is still a swim meet, even if you add on millions of dollars spectators. That dedication, that drive, that spirit of Olympics can exist in any athlete. I feel like Dressel whenever I swim in a relay–even when I come in last. The Olympic spirit is something anyone can claim.

So, I dive back in the water.