What the Water Taught Me

Backstroke & Breakthroughs – Post #5

Before life knocked me down, the water built me up.

I started swimming competitively in high school not the most common path for a Black kid from the east side of Cleveland. But for me, the pool became a place of clarity. There was no noise under the surface, no judgment—just breath, rhythm, and movement. I trained hard. I won gold and silver medals. But more than anything, I learned how to keep going when no one’s watching.

Competition, especially in an individual sport like swimming, taught me discipline. The kind that doesn’t rely on motivation, just commitment. You show up. You practice. You grind. Whether you’re in lane one or lane eight, the race is still yours to swim.

Swimming also gave me something else: confidence in isolation. A lot of people think growth only happens in groups, with praise or attention. But in the water, it’s just you. Your breath. Your thoughts. Your will. That solitude taught me resilience. It taught me to set internal goals, not just chase external trophies.

And let’s be real there were times I didn’t feel like I belonged. Not because I couldn’t swim and went to my first practice in the wrong gear and no goggles, but because of how I looked. Representation wasn’t strong in that space. But I stayed. I stayed because I belonged just as much as anyone else. And every medal I earned was a statement: We are here too.

This week’s takeaway:
Your lane is your lane. Don’t worry about who’s watching or counting you out. Keep your form, keep your focus, and let your consistency do the talking.

Peace,
– J.R.