Thursday, December 17, 2020
My Why: Liang Joe & Kate Bluford
Some sage soul, possibly Rowdy Gaines, once mused, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
At this point, our hearts are to the point of bursting with pent-up fondness — and longing — for the pool. Continued and extended periods of quarantine have distanced us from the comfort of chlorine during the 'Rona’s reign, affecting all members of the swim community — athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, family and supporters alike.
We’ve missed the big moments: postponed U.S. Team Trials and 2020 Olympic Games Tokyo, as well as hundreds of cancelled international, national and local age group meets.
We’ve missed the little moments: obligatory groans at early-morning practice, the communal joy of a dropped tenth, as well as hundreds of laughs, hugs, cheers and tears shared with teammates, coaches, officials, volunteers, family and supporters.
Of course, these aren’t actually the little moments. The relationships, the bonds, the empathy and the love are the true comforts of chlorine.
"My Why" is a series of candid testimonials from individuals who believe in the power of swimming. Their passion for the sport is infectious.
Liang Joe | survival swimming instructor | Coto de Caza, CA
I currently teach survival swimming lessons to children from six months to six years of age. I am a certified Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) instructor. I believe in ISR’s mission of “Not One More Child Drowns” because children are the most important part of drowning prevention. I feel successful if I can prevent one family from going through a loss of a child from drowning. (For more information on ISR, please visit www.infantswim.com.)
In addition to being an ISR instructor, I also teach all four strokes to young children and I am a backup swim coach for the Coto Coyotes Swim Team.
My family immigrated from Korea to Taiwan, then shortly after settled in Argentina when I was 3-years-old. My father, who has a passion for swimming, wanted to find an activity for his four young children. Living in poverty, we did not have the luxury or access to a pool. Instead, my father dug a 8 ft. long x 6 ft. wide x 3 ft. deep hole in our small backyard and used planks and cement to build a pool for us. My swimming journey began in that pool.
My first formal lesson was during my junior year in high school when the school decided to start a swim team. Due to all of our family’s international moves, I became a very shy and introverted person with low self-esteem. Swimming became my outlet and safe haven because I naturally excelled at it. I was awarded the Varsity Outstanding Swimmer and MVP. I was also our school’s first swimmer to qualify for an individual California Interscholastic Federation event in the 100 breast.
Although my swimming career ended after high school, my passion for swimming never stopped. Both of my children swim competitively: Ashley, 20, swims for Whitman College and Brandon, 17, swims for the Coto Coyotes and Tesoro High School.
I joined the masters swimming program and swam for the same team as my children. While swimming one day, I was recruited to join the coaching staff. I started as an assistant coach for the 10-and-under group in 2013, became the lead coach for that group in 2016, and Masters swim coach in 2018. I enjoy swimming in the ocean, scuba diving, and I’ve done several triathlons.
Though satisfied with my coaching career, something was still missing. On a fateful morning in 2018, I heard sirens blaring. Later on I found out that my neighbors’ 18-month-old daughter had drowned. I felt so helpless that there was nothing I could have done to prevent their child from drowning. Shortly after, I saw someone teaching infants how to swim in our community pool. I suddenly felt a glimpse of hope. I was instantly blown away that a child could learn to swim at such a young age. Once I learned about ISR, I knew this was the missing link to my coaching career. Within six months, I went through the rigorous training and became a certified instructor for ISR.
I feel at peace when I swim. The noise and chaos of the world just fades away. I feel calm and relaxed with a sense of relief. There is something magical about being immersed in the water that my body is very familiar with, and it feels incredible… this deep connection, and I can breathe again.
Kate Bluford | Scottsdale Aquatics Club swimmer (age 15) | Mesa, AZ
I am a varsity swimmer for Desert Ridge High School and swim competitively with Scottsdale Aquatics Club. I am also a Junior National qualifier and National Diversity Select Camp athlete, representing Native Americans.
My swim journey started from the very beginning. When I was less than a year old, I jumped into the pool and I didn’t want to get out, so my mom enrolled me in survival swim lessons. As I moved through the various levels, learning different strokes and spending time in the water, I became a competitive swimmer at 7-years-old.
As someone who has grown up in the pool, I don’t know what I would do without swimming. It not only allows me to release stress from daily life, but it has also taught me the value of a great work ethic. Swimming has also allowed me to meet some great coaches and swimmers, compete against some of the best athletes in the nation, and has given me my best friends.
Furthermore, as a member of Muscogee Creek Nation in Oklahoma, my goal is to bring more awareness to the underrepresented Indigenous community within USA Swimming. As I continue to compete and chase my goals of swimming in college and qualifying for the Olympic Trials, I hope to shed more light on Indigenous culture and encourage other Natives to become involved in this great sport.
At this point, our hearts are to the point of bursting with pent-up fondness — and longing — for the pool. Continued and extended periods of quarantine have distanced us from the comfort of chlorine during the 'Rona’s reign, affecting all members of the swim community — athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, family and supporters alike.
We’ve missed the big moments: postponed U.S. Team Trials and 2020 Olympic Games Tokyo, as well as hundreds of cancelled international, national and local age group meets.
We’ve missed the little moments: obligatory groans at early-morning practice, the communal joy of a dropped tenth, as well as hundreds of laughs, hugs, cheers and tears shared with teammates, coaches, officials, volunteers, family and supporters.
Of course, these aren’t actually the little moments. The relationships, the bonds, the empathy and the love are the true comforts of chlorine.
"My Why" is a series of candid testimonials from individuals who believe in the power of swimming. Their passion for the sport is infectious.
Liang Joe | survival swimming instructor | Coto de Caza, CA
I currently teach survival swimming lessons to children from six months to six years of age. I am a certified Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) instructor. I believe in ISR’s mission of “Not One More Child Drowns” because children are the most important part of drowning prevention. I feel successful if I can prevent one family from going through a loss of a child from drowning. (For more information on ISR, please visit www.infantswim.com.)
In addition to being an ISR instructor, I also teach all four strokes to young children and I am a backup swim coach for the Coto Coyotes Swim Team.
My family immigrated from Korea to Taiwan, then shortly after settled in Argentina when I was 3-years-old. My father, who has a passion for swimming, wanted to find an activity for his four young children. Living in poverty, we did not have the luxury or access to a pool. Instead, my father dug a 8 ft. long x 6 ft. wide x 3 ft. deep hole in our small backyard and used planks and cement to build a pool for us. My swimming journey began in that pool.
My first formal lesson was during my junior year in high school when the school decided to start a swim team. Due to all of our family’s international moves, I became a very shy and introverted person with low self-esteem. Swimming became my outlet and safe haven because I naturally excelled at it. I was awarded the Varsity Outstanding Swimmer and MVP. I was also our school’s first swimmer to qualify for an individual California Interscholastic Federation event in the 100 breast.
Although my swimming career ended after high school, my passion for swimming never stopped. Both of my children swim competitively: Ashley, 20, swims for Whitman College and Brandon, 17, swims for the Coto Coyotes and Tesoro High School.
I joined the masters swimming program and swam for the same team as my children. While swimming one day, I was recruited to join the coaching staff. I started as an assistant coach for the 10-and-under group in 2013, became the lead coach for that group in 2016, and Masters swim coach in 2018. I enjoy swimming in the ocean, scuba diving, and I’ve done several triathlons.
Though satisfied with my coaching career, something was still missing. On a fateful morning in 2018, I heard sirens blaring. Later on I found out that my neighbors’ 18-month-old daughter had drowned. I felt so helpless that there was nothing I could have done to prevent their child from drowning. Shortly after, I saw someone teaching infants how to swim in our community pool. I suddenly felt a glimpse of hope. I was instantly blown away that a child could learn to swim at such a young age. Once I learned about ISR, I knew this was the missing link to my coaching career. Within six months, I went through the rigorous training and became a certified instructor for ISR.
I feel at peace when I swim. The noise and chaos of the world just fades away. I feel calm and relaxed with a sense of relief. There is something magical about being immersed in the water that my body is very familiar with, and it feels incredible… this deep connection, and I can breathe again.
Kate Bluford | Scottsdale Aquatics Club swimmer (age 15) | Mesa, AZ
I am a varsity swimmer for Desert Ridge High School and swim competitively with Scottsdale Aquatics Club. I am also a Junior National qualifier and National Diversity Select Camp athlete, representing Native Americans.
My swim journey started from the very beginning. When I was less than a year old, I jumped into the pool and I didn’t want to get out, so my mom enrolled me in survival swim lessons. As I moved through the various levels, learning different strokes and spending time in the water, I became a competitive swimmer at 7-years-old.
As someone who has grown up in the pool, I don’t know what I would do without swimming. It not only allows me to release stress from daily life, but it has also taught me the value of a great work ethic. Swimming has also allowed me to meet some great coaches and swimmers, compete against some of the best athletes in the nation, and has given me my best friends.
Furthermore, as a member of Muscogee Creek Nation in Oklahoma, my goal is to bring more awareness to the underrepresented Indigenous community within USA Swimming. As I continue to compete and chase my goals of swimming in college and qualifying for the Olympic Trials, I hope to shed more light on Indigenous culture and encourage other Natives to become involved in this great sport.