Maintaining perspective
I have often thought that perhaps the greatest athlete in the area, if not the state, is a 74-year-old woman named Peony Munger. Peony came to the United States about 35 years ago, during a long and illustrious career in nursing, and took up the sport of swimming at about the same time. As she tells it, she was terrified of the water and sure she would drown during her first brave attempts in the pool.
Fast forward 35+ years and Peony swims with the Wenatchee Valley Masters Swim Team 5 mornings a week and has made several trips to nationals. Impressive? Sure. But that’s only the beginning. Every morning at 5:30am she begins her task for the day: swimming one mile butterfly. If you’re not familiar with the butterfly stroke, it is the stroke that Michael Phelps made famous this summer. Two arms reach out of the water simaltaneously, in theory, and swimmers add a dolphin kick to help propel them across the pool. Peony says that some mornings it takes her longer than others, but she does it every morning regardless.
I’ve been a swimmer for nearly 30 years and have adopted a strict “no butterfly policy”. It’s hard, and I’ve gotten lazy over the years. So, I don’t do it. But, Peony, my 74-year-old Korean friend does at least 66 laps EVERY morning- and has for years. In fact, during a swim meet last year she entered the mile- and swam it butterfly. Talk about a slice of humble pie.
Peony’s birthday was last week and every year for her birthday her one request is that the entire Masters swim team swim 400 yards of continuous butterfly- a “mere” 16 laps. By comparrison, every morning Peony swims 66 laps. Loud complaining ensues, but we all do it because we care about Peony and are humbled by her ability and dedication. It’s not pretty, but it gets done. That birthday swim was last Friday morning, and as I donned my fins and prepared to violate my strict policy, it occured to me that we are upstaged and outswam every morning by a 74-year-old woman. Her talent and dedication is amazing. If anyone thinks they can swim a mile butterfly- even once- I challenge you to try. I barely made it 400 yards.


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