Transcript

KALLY FAYHEE

The current in an endless pool pushes us to be stronger athletes. It keeps us from ever touching the wall. And when we try to stand up, it overtakes us completely. As athletes, we spend our lives trying to beat the current, to tough it out, put our heads down, keep swimming.

Since I was six, I wanted to become an Olympian. I had many successes along the way both in the pool and out. I spent nearly 16 years chasing that Olympic dream. But I never did reach it. Swimming is like most other sports. It lives and dies by measurements. Our successes and failures are defined by numbers, one by one, the distance practised, the number of strokes.

And in turn, I defined myself on numbers. I was convinced that if I figured out the right formula, reached the goals that I set, I would in turn feel good enough, accepted, comfortable in my own skin. I had it all.