John Baldwin
John is currently home schooled along with his 5 siblings.
John tells a unique story of swimming with the FISH. John started swimming
with the Age Group FISH when he was 8 years old and continued to swim off and
on for 5 years. After John had
taken a year off, as a 14 year old, he decided to return swimming with the FISH and he has been able to
commit to swimming fever since. Over the past couple of
years, John was able to work his way through the Terrific and Incredible FISH groups
and earned an invitation to swim with the Awesome Group in 2007. John is now a Sectional qualifier and
is looking forward to swimming in college in the future. John will be attending NOVA, a local community
college, and continue to train with the FISH while in college. John is a very hard worker and very easy to coach. He will
be a huge asset to our team next season.
1. When did you join the team and what
has been your most memorable experience while being on the team? I joined the FISH as an 8
years old and swam on and of until the age of 13. At the age of 15 I started swimming until
I got made it into the Awesome Group.
2. What was your most rewarding and exciting meet during your FISH career? The LC Derby in 2006; it was my first 1500 meter Freestyle race and during my cool down they turned off the lights in the pool and Kevin Benecki and I were left swimming in the dark!
3. What do you like most about swimming? Swimming keeps me active and physically
fit.
4. What is your favorite set? "Roller Coasters" sets from Coach Ray.
5. What are your favorite events? 100 Freestyle and the mile, of course.
6. What is the biggest challenge for you in swimming? Time management throughout day; by that I mean, I want to give the best while at practice, the best while I do my school work and I need to get enough sleep and nutritional food to operate at my best.
7. What motivates you most? Self motivation! I set my own goals and I try to achieve them.
8. Which aspects of swimming do you
apply in every day life?
I would say Time
management and Discipline as well as Passion for something I love to do.
9. You are beginning a new swimming
chapter, swimming in college. What
are you most looking forward to?
Since I have the luck and can continue to train with Coach Ray, I know I will be able to
achieve faster times in all my events. He will be able to get it out of me.
10. What advice can you give your
teammates in your group and especially your younger teammates who are just
starting out?
Work hard, it
will pay off! Stick with it, it
takes time but it will pay off! There is nothing better when each time you touch the wall after a race and you realize you've achieved yet another Best Time.
11. Tell me a little bit about you, what do you like to do when you are not swimming or busy with schoolwork? School, eating and sleeping!
