Swim Instructor at the Family Swim School since 2004
Do you remember the first time you wore goggles?
I sure do.
As a swim instructor, I feel it is important to be able to to swim comfortably with or without goggles, mostly as a safety measure. I usually have students familiarize themselves with the world of underwater swimming without goggles, just to make sure they are comfortable with their own abilities before introducing a new variable. But in my 10-year career as a competitive swimmer, my own personal history with goggles has some memorable highlights.
I began my swimming career for King Aquatic Club in Seattle at the age of 8, after dutifully taking swim lessons. My older sisters (who many know as Miss Lindsay in Eagan, and Miss Chelsea, who used to work in Eagan and Lakeville) were both members of the swim team, and I was eager to join. I could just barely do all of the strokes, and the 25 yards of the pool still seemed an impossible distance to me, but the coach was nice enough to let me try it out. I remember my first practice vividly: a stunning combination of tears, attempts to climb out and escape, and bumping in to other, more experienced team members. My mom and coach, both watching, chuckling, and urging me to stay in and finish practice, both suggested that I try out wearing goggles.
I hated them. The uncomfortable, bug-like Speedo Sprint goggles (old-school!) that I borrowed from Chelsea were not my favorite, and I swore I would only try them once.
But I remember that first underwater push-off...
Seeing the bubbles skimming across my streamline positioned arms,
Seeing every bubble leave my mouth and nose, slowly rising to the surface to.....POP!
No matter how awful those first foam gasket goggles were, I was hooked, and I have been an under-water enthusiast ever since.
Memorable Goggle Moments
One of my my friends growing up swimming was 200 Individual Medley world record holder Ariana Kukors.
Her mother once said something before a race concerning goggles that has stuck with my family through all of our years as swimmers.
My sister, Ariana, and a friend were getting ready for a race. This meant all the parents were standing around their swimmers, helping them put on caps and goggles, and get prepared. Suddenly...
Snap! Our friend's goggles broke. It has happened to every swimmer out there-- the dreaded goggle malfunction right before a big race; but her parents begin shrieking and the swimmer is near hysterics.
"I can't race! I can't race!"
Very calmly and sternly, Ariana's mom looks over at them and says:
"Goggles don't swim races."
That didn't calm or comfort our friend or her parents, and they later blamed her poor swim on her goggles, but my family has laughed about this ever since, and learned from it. Goggles don't swim for us, but they can sure be fun when we have them!
