Olympic Trials

Laura recently went to Omaha Nebraska to watch the Olympic Swim Trials. She was like a kid in a candy shop! She is such a fan of swimming and loves absolutely everything about it. She knows all the athletes and can tell you all their stats and everything. When she first started swimming for Macs, she met a little 8 year old girl named Jessica Rodriquez. Jessica was just coasting along, being the fastest one in her group when Laura started beating her in practice. She started trying harder and swimming faster and now, 10 years later, is competing at the Olympic Trials. She didn't make the team, only top 2 in every event make the team, but she swam respectably. I saw her in the 400 Free on national T.V. and she looked really nervous and scared. She took 6th place in that event. She is Adam's age and will be starting college this fall. I am sure that she will be back in the next Trials in four years. Laura knew several other swimmers at the meet, one was on her team in Flordia Atlantic, named Elle Weberg who is a breast stroker. She got 5th in the 200 Breast stroke. Laura had a really great time cheering her friends on to victory!

The most inspirational story that came out of these trial for me was Dara Torres. She placed first in the 100 Free and the 50 Free. She is 41 years old!!! She has retired TWICE from competitive swimming and is back again! She was winning Olympic medals before Michael Phelpps and Natalie Coughlin were even born! Just an amazing story to watch. I am so inspired! Dara's bright smile and gracious demeanor is such a pleasure to watch. She is yet more proof that we can do anything, even after 40!

Here is Laura and her friend Cody with Olympian Brendon Hanson:
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