Nick Rowsell started swimming when he was eight years old.
The sport appealed to the 17-year-old from Gander because of how success in the pool is dependent on yourself and how you prepare.
“What you put into (swimming) is what you get out of it,” Rowsell told The Central Voice.
Earlier this month, Rowsell competed at a swim meet at the Gander Arts and Culture Centre pool.
It was an event that produced some mixed emotions for Rowsell. While it was only the start to the season for him, it was his last swim meet in his hometown pool.
“There was a lot of nostalgia and a little bit of nervousness,” he said.
He did well and brought home a top achiever medal after a number of top finishes in his swims.
Over the years, Rowsell and his teammates have become close. They spend every day in the pool together and it is only natural that they start resembling something other than teammates.
“Slowly they become your family,” said Rowsell.
Juxtapose the swimmer at the end of his career with an athlete just getting started in a new sport.
Prior to moving to Glovertown, nine-year-old Eliana Briffett wasn’t a competitive swimmer. Growing up in Nunavut, there were fun swims but nothing like she had experienced during the meet in Gander.
Having the chance to compete against her peers was exciting, as well as a little scary, Briffett told The Central Voice.
“I go to every practice and I want to get better at it,” she said.
Briffett finished with four top-place finishes and two silvers. That was good enough for a top achiever in her age category.
She competed in the 100metre individual medley, 100m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 50m breaststroke, 50m free and 50m backstroke.
“The 100m individual medley is my favourite,” said Briffett. “It has all of the strokes in it and it is just fun.”
Swimming is an individual sport. When you’re in the pool, its only you against a group of others and you’re all looking to finish on top of the podium.
Still, your teammates are on the deck and they are loud when cheering.
“(The cheering) is really good,” said Briffett. “I love my team.”
