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dlish · 08-15-2008, 05:56 AM

i should just come out and say that im disappointed in myself.

i could have been an olympian at at least one of the 3 or 4 last olympics.

as a teenager i was quite an avid swimmer and runner. i loved running, but i was better at swimming.

as a swimmer i used to train hard, but the determination fell away by the time i turned 18. i got sick of 'following the black line' at the bottom of the pool. A common thing in the swimming world, and i gave it up. i also gave up running because of the constant injuries that came with it. my mileage in swimming became more than my running at one point.

getting into the australian squad is difficult at best. its ultra competitive. being of lebanese heritage, i also had a chance at making the olympic team for lebanon. my times were good enough in those days to compete for lebanon, and i dare say i could have made the 1996, 2000, 2004 and maybe even 2008 olympics had i held on. im 30 now, but most swimmers reach their peaks early, unlike track and field athletes.

it takes a lot of determination and sacrifice to be a swimmer. waking up for 2hr swim sessions at 5 every morning before school and heading back straight after school was 'normal' for me followed by athletics training an hour after that a few times a week.

every time i see the olympics on tv i get a stab in the gut knowing that i could have been there. i couldnt say i would have won anything, not even a heat. who knows if i kept on training. bu tjust being there and being part of the atmosphere would have been great. i think about it often these days because of the coverage. on TV.

during the beijing opening ceremony i pictured myself having donned the lebanese attire - is that normal?. its not about winning really, its just being there. whether i swam for lebanon or australia does not bother me. my allegiance to both still remains the same.

instead i decided to give the game away. in hindsight i wish i didnt. maybe its olympic blues, but i do know that had i decided to stick it out i wouldnt have just been a competitor. at 14 my times were good enough to get me into an olympic squad, and 4 olympics have gone past in the meantime, i would definately have been competitive.

i guess if i did stick it out i wouldnt be where i am today though and tasted success and failure in life, so its a double edge sword. im glad life has panned out this way, but its an opportunity that ive missed telling my grandkids about.

maybe this should be in my blog. but i know theres other athletes out there on TFP that have trained their guts out that may feel the same way.

feel free to share your stories

08-15-2008, 05:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	Olympic Failure? i should just come out and say that im disappointed in myself. i could have been an olympian at at least one of the 3 or 4 last olympics. as a teenager i was quite an avid swimmer and runner. i loved running, but i was better at swimming. as a swimmer i used to train hard, but the determination fell away by the time i turned 18. i got sick of 'following the black line' at the bottom of the pool. A common thing in the swimming world, and i gave it up. i also gave up running because of the constant injuries that came with it. my mileage in swimming became more than my running at one point. getting into the australian squad is difficult at best. its ultra competitive. being of lebanese heritage, i also had a chance at making the olympic team for lebanon. my times were good enough in those days to compete for lebanon, and i dare say i could have made the 1996, 2000, 2004 and maybe even 2008 olympics had i held on. im 30 now, but most swimmers reach their peaks early, unlike track and field athletes. it takes a lot of determination and sacrifice to be a swimmer. waking up for 2hr swim sessions at 5 every morning before school and heading back straight after school was 'normal' for me followed by athletics training an hour after that a few times a week. every time i see the olympics on tv i get a stab in the gut knowing that i could have been there. i couldnt say i would have won anything, not even a heat. who knows if i kept on training. bu tjust being there and being part of the atmosphere would have been great. i think about it often these days because of the coverage. on TV. during the beijing opening ceremony i pictured myself having donned the lebanese attire - is that normal?. its not about winning really, its just being there. whether i swam for lebanon or australia does not bother me. my allegiance to both still remains the same. instead i decided to give the game away. in hindsight i wish i didnt. maybe its olympic blues, but i do know that had i decided to stick it out i wouldnt have just been a competitor. at 14 my times were good enough to get me into an olympic squad, and 4 olympics have gone past in the meantime, i would definately have been competitive. i guess if i did stick it out i wouldnt be where i am today though and tasted success and failure in life, so its a double edge sword. im glad life has panned out this way, but its an opportunity that ive missed telling my grandkids about. maybe this should be in my blog. but i know theres other athletes out there on TFP that have trained their guts out that may feel the same way. feel free to share your stories __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy