The United States Postal Service offers a Forever Stamp honoring John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach at UCLA who led the Bruins to 10 NCAA Championship banners, the most in American collegiate history. Coach Wooden remains one of the most famous coaches in American sporting lore.
What does this new John Wooden Stamp have to do with open water swimming?
His pithy quotes and various bits of life advice are valuable to everyone, especially open water swimmers who are often challenged to overcome Mother Nature (water conditions + weather conditions + water temperature + marine life), competitors, distance, duration of their swims.
For open water swimmers, not all goes to plan. In fact, it is rare that everything in a marathon swim, a channel crossing, a pioneering attempt, an ice swim, a winter swimming race, an open water swimming race, a stage swim, or a high-altitude event goes strictly according to plan. Most often, a Plan B and a Plan C have to be put in place. Occasionally, a swim window is closed out due to weather. Escort boats have problems. Food and hydration can cause problems. An unanticipated illness or injury sidelines you. Or a competitor gets in your way or impedes your progress in some way.
Stuff happens.
For those times, John Wooden’s quotes are well worth reading and remembering. Specifically the following:
When setting a plan for your next Big Swim: “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.”
After a DNF: “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.”
When asked to serve as a pace swimmer, an escort kayaker, a second, a volunteer, or a crew member: “Happiness begins where selfishness ends.” and “Your greatest joy definitely comes from doing something for another, especially when it was done with no thought of something in return.”
For those early mornings in winter when you do not want to get out of bed and do a workout: “Nothing will work unless you do.”
For those times when the weather and water conditions are much worse than expected: “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”
When the waves are roughest, the currents are the strongest, and the water is the coldest: “Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.”
To address those thoughts about what to do next after a major swim or major competition: “The best competition I have is against myself to become better.”
To help decide on who to be part of your escort and support team: “Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who’ll argue with you.”
When mentoring the next generation of swimmers: “Young people need models, not critics.”
When pride and arrogance may become an issue: “Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”
Upon waking: “Make each day your masterpiece.”
When you are in the midst of a hard training cycle: “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?“
If you are tempted to believe you know everything about the sport: “If I am through learning, I am through.”
© 2024 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“