I haven't always been a swimmer. In fact, I have only been swimming for 3 years. This is because before I swam, I dedicated all of my time to playing soccer. Even though I don't play soccer anymore, it taught me several things that I bring to swimming. It taught me persistence and patience when it comes to perfecting technique. It taught me to listen to my coaches and my teammates. However, the most important thing it taught me, and the thing that has made me excel in swimming is that when you go out onto the field or up onto the block, there can only be one thing and that is to win.