Morgan

What do they love most about playing their sport(s)?

For my daughter, swimming is so much more than just a sport — it’s where she truly comes alive. She says her favorite part is how calm everything feels underwater. “It’s like the world disappears,” she tells me, and I can see it in her face every time she pushes off the wall. In the pool, she’s confident, focused, and completely in her element. She loves the challenge, too. Whether it’s shaving a second off her freestyle or finally nailing her flip turn, she’s always setting little goals.

Who inspires them—on or off the field—and why?

My 10-year-old daughter dreams big — and her biggest dream is to swim in the Olympics one day. She talks about it constantly, not in a daydream kind of way, but with this quiet determination that makes me believe she just might do it. She absolutely looks up to Katie Ledecky. To her, Katie is everything she wants to be — strong, focused, humble, and fearless in the water. It’s inspiring to watch her chase something so big with so much heart.

What’s one moment in their athletic journey that makes you proudest?

One moment that stands out — the one that makes me proudest — wasn’t about winning a race. It was when my daughter came in last. She had been working on her freestyle. She swam her heart out but finished well behind everyone else. I expected her to be upset, maybe even cry. But instead, she climbed out of the pool, walked over with a huge smile. She didn’t focus on losing — she focused on learning. She was proud of her progress, even when it didn’t come with a ribbon.