Last week I swam in my first competition since 1997 at the World Master’s Games in Edmonton, Alberta. I must tell you that the entire experience was incredibly fun, but the competition was definitely a rude awakening. Most of us have heard about the concept of being in “race shape.” Well, that was clearly where I was not.

Each year it gets a little bit harder to fool your body into believing it can still race, and this nearly 54 year old body was not about to be fooled. Having worked out only three times per week for the past year and a half, I certainly was in no position to have delusions of grandeur. Nonetheless, almost as if someone upstairs is teasing me a bit, every so often, I actually feel pretty good in practice; good enough to think that I might still be able to get up and race. Racing has a way of quickly bringing one back to reality.

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In the year leading to the Olympics, I served as a sort of den mother to the athletes training with my husband, Gary, in Islamorada. I cooked, cleaned and generally made sure that everyone was getting what they wanted and needed and that they were happy and comfortable. From my experience with Gary, I realize that rest-time is as important as the workout. A swimmer needs to eat good food and have adequate rest.

Fortunately, I LOVE to cook!

One week, after a weekend spent together at home in Miami, I sent Gary down to Islamorada with a batch of empanadas. Sabir Mohammed has recently requested the recipe. Apparently, he liked these tasty little meat-filled pies.

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Hey Y’all,

It is with great enthusiasm that I punch the keys, eager to tell you about the what not’s. First I should say that I no longer work with David Arluck. It has taken some time to reacquire 100% of The Race Club, a project that was spawned from my heart’s desire and sprinkled with the dreams of this half mad swimmer. I then decided to make The Race Club a family affair. My father, my brother Brian, my sister Maria, and my other sister Bebe will run the daily to do’s. Bebe and her boyfriend came all the way from living in New Zealand for the job. Now we are all settled down, well equipped to take this project into Phase II.

I owe an apology to those that have tried since the Olympics to reach us at The Race Club website, or phone line. During this timely transition the daily’s were neglected and I thank you for your patience. We are now operational and will continue to develop. If you haven’t noticed already, the website is completely different with a different server. The e-store merchant is different. The merchandise soon will change (thank you to all of you who ordered us out of stock). The phone lines and banking accounts too. And my hairdo has changed at least twice since I won the fifty free last summer in Athens. We have retained our A-team coaching staff and now are looking at putting together our new crew of sea dog swimmers. Arrrgh.

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Can you imagine being ranked 12th in the world at anything? 12th best in baseball or basketball or football or soccer or NASCAR or golf? 12th most money? 12th fastest swimmer on the planet?

Now imagine being the 12th best and having the ability to turn it on when a lot of others drop out. Imagine having the ability to beat the guys who are ranked 10th, 9th, 8th, etc in the world when they are up on the blocks next to you because you know how to turn it on.

Finally, imagine being ranked 12th in the world in 2003 and placing second at World Championships that year. Winning your country’s Olympic Trials and finishing the race over half a second beneath the Official Olympic Qualifying standard and yet being denied a place on your country’s Olympic team because a self described ”unathletic” paper pusher decides that the Olympic qualifying standard in the 50 meter freestyle for his country alone should be 22.42 when the actual Olympic qualifying time is 22.7.

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Swimming is my line of work – only it really doesn’t pay very well.

In 1999 I was told I would never compete at an elite level again because of the diabetes I was diagnosed with. Because I learned to manage the disease that could kill me and because of sponsorship support from diabetes focused companies, I was put in a position that enabled me to win four more Olympic medals and today I remain among the fastest swimmers in the world. Ironically, if it weren’t for diabetes – I wouldn’t be able to continue swimming today.

Most swimmers stop competing because they can no longer financially afford to stay in the sport or their shoulders were blown out by overzealous college and age group coaches. Fact is, all people are physically (barring injury)and mentally stronger at 30 than they are at 20. If swimmers and other athletes are given a chance to swim to an ”older” age they will certainly compete at a higher level. I actually believe that a new crop of champions will blossom.

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