Last summer after graduating from my 4 years of study in Trade and Commerce, I decided to make my dream come true and focus on swimming for at least one year. What I want to find out in this time is, if I can go further in swimming than “only” Swiss National Championships or if I just love this sport and have fun with a couple of workouts a week.

So I began to write Emails to leading swimming clubs all over Europe to find a place I could stay for a while in a professional surrounding with professional workouts. As a fan of Gary Hall Jr., the Race Club was always in my head and on top of my list, but everybody around me told me that I would never be accepted to stay over there. Encouraged by my former American coach, Chris Morgan, and because I always go my own way, I decided to try it anyway. And look where I am now!!

My dream has become reality – I am in Islamorada, doing my workouts with the Race Club. Believe me, I feel just great and happy with the workouts as well as with the people around me. They make me feel welcome and like I have been part of the Race Club Family for some time.

What my stay will bring to my swimming skills in seconds, I can’t tell you today – only 2 weeks after my arrival. But I feel like I’m improving a bit more in every workout – to something and someone that is better than the guy who came over from Switzerland.

I will take that chance I have been given and I strongly believe that when you love what you are doing, you can’t lose!

-Nicolas Messer