My Daughter has Qualified for State Championships in Swimming!

@jennybianca (12912)
Australia
June 17, 2007 9:11pm CST
My 14 year old daughter participated in a swimming competition yesterday. It was a Division two comp. This was important, because if she achieved a qualifying time in any event, she would be entitled to prticipate in the State Chamopionship held in January 2008. This is a huge event, held over three days, that other Australian states attend, plus teams from Japan & other countries. Well, she did it. In 50M freestyle, she got a time of 34.35 which is a qualifying time. She got PB's (personal Best) in both other events too, although not yet good enough for the State Championships. Her butterfly is not too far off, in fact, she only needs to get a quicker time by 1.35 seconds, which hopefully she will achieve in the near future. Yesterdays competition is a points comp, & if a swimmer gets an A grade time, they are not given points. Thats far enough in my opinion & my daughter understands this, as of course she can't get points for her freestyle. Her other events she came second in, so she gets good points for that. So, all in all, a successful day, with three PB's, & a qualifying time for the State championships. Now I want to tell you what another parent said. This other parent from our club has a daughter 6 months older than my daughter. She has been training a lot longer. But my daughter has caught her up in a number of events, especially sprints. This mans daughter did not do that well, in fact, my daughter beat her in every event, by a long way in the 100M medley, & of course, she did not qualify for the State Championships. Our club is supposed to be very supportive & family orientated. This man came up to me & told me that my daughter had wasted her day. When I queried as to why, as she had received three PB's, got high points & qualified for the States. He claimed to me that her points for freestyle won't count (which we know about), & that she should have slowed down & not got an A grade time (which is cheating), & that she didn't qualify for the States (short course). I explained to him that she wasn't aiming for the short course, but rather the long course in January, & she did qualify for that. He didn't want to hear this. I was so annoyed. He is just plainly jealous of my daughter beating his. We shouldn't be like this. Most of us in our club try to support all kids, not just our own. He was jut trying to belittle my daughters performance. I told the treasure of the Club about this, & he said he would report the incident to the President. If he doesn't report it, I will.
4 people like this
22 responses
@Calais (10893)
• Australia
18 Jun 07
~ ~ ~ CONGRATULATIONS ~ ~ ~ Thats excellent I bet your so proud. Good on her. This other guy sounds like he has a bad case of the green monster...lol.
4 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
18 Jun 07
Yes, it was the green monster at work for sure!
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
18 Jun 07
Give her my heartfelt congratualtions on her HUGE achievement in swimming etc. She sure is one hard working teenager it seems. You must be VERY proud of her? I am and I don't even know her. Hahahaha!!! As far as that mans comments, I'd have thanked him then just walked away. Seems he is more into the sport than his daughter. Maybe this is one resons she didn't fair as well as your daughter did. Again grats to her and to you also. Thanks for sharing and tell her good luick in January also. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
18 Jun 07
Yopu couldn';t be more right. This man, & his wife, are known to push their daughters too much with swimming, & do think this may be affecting their performance.
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
18 Jun 07
yes it's a sad thing indeed. Let the kids have fun and do what they can. If it's meant to be then they nwill do good. I had never forced either of my children into anything and when they did I never pushed. Do what they can and have fun I say.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
18 Jun 07
Hooray for your daughter. I will say that those early morning workouts are paying off. I do not understand all of the details about the scoring, I am so unathletic, but I do understand about playing fair and not cheating, and doing your best. Parents like your "friend" give children's sports a bad name. Poor losers who live vicariously through their children, and cannot let their kids take responsibility for their scores, good or bad.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
18 Jun 07
Yes, I agree that this parent is a poor looser & is living through his daughter. It puts stress on the kids too.
2 people like this
• India
18 Jun 07
Congrats !! Jenny for your daughter's selection for state championship. Hope in future she will achieve many mile stones in swimming. Only need will be your support. Rest she will achieve by her hard work. One day she may participate in Olympic Game also. Swimming is good field for girls. There are lot of scope in this game. Her age is also not much. She is at tender age. Upto 20 she may reach at peak. Congrats !
3 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
18 Jun 07
Yes, I believe female swimmers reach their peak at about 20 years, some ev en later. But she wants to be a vet, & she would still be 17 when she gets into university.
2 people like this
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
18 Jun 07
Congrats to your daughter. I think its terrible that all the parents aren't supporting all the hard work done by any member of the club. He has forgotten how important it is to appreciate hard work. I'm glad your daughter did well.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
18 Jun 07
Thank you for your congratulations.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Jun 07
first of all,congratulations to your daugher.I think that's really great that she qualified.I know you must be really proud. as for that guy,he's obviously jealous and if I were you ,i would definately make sure that the president was told. He had no right to act like that. that's poor sportsmanship and not a very good thing to be teaching his daughter.
3 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
18 Jun 07
Very true comments. We are in a Club, & club members must support one another.
1 person likes this
@BELMCstar (1341)
• Australia
18 Jun 07
That is so fantastic that she qualified. It is so sad that this other family was not happy with the way things went, but that is the luck of the draw sometimes. I am glad that she will represent her state, and hopefully will go on to represent Australia - if that is her goal. Congrats to you for putting the effort in with her training, and to her as well of course.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
18 Jun 07
Thank you. A lot of effort is put into her swimming, by my daughter more than me. I just fall asleep at the swim centre!
1 person likes this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
18 Jun 07
When the kids are involved I am not sure what the parents have to say things about. The officials handle it all and your daughter is just one of the individuals that compete to the best of their ability. Not all do and there can only be one winner. Tis a shame that we cannot behave and allow our children to live out the way they are able to with our positive support. Everyone can have an off day or month. So enjoy this while it lasts and we shall see how it turns out overall. Good luck to her!
2 people like this
@easy888 (10405)
• Australia
18 Jun 07
Hello,jennybianca,congratulations on your daughters.As i remember,you had started a discussion before telling us that you had to wake up early at the monrning everyday to take your daughter for the training,wasn't it? Hard work finally pays off now.May be after some time,she will be qualified for Olympic and represent australia to take part in international competition.
@youless (112582)
• Guangzhou, China
18 Jun 07
Wow, that's a great news! Congratulations! I am sure you must be so proud of your daughter. I can swim but I can't swim as well as your daughter:)
2 people like this
@mizrae (587)
• United States
18 Jun 07
Congratulations to your daughter! You can tell she had to have worked very hard training for these events. Many "kudos" for her fantastic efforts. Some people can be so petty when it comes to their kids and competing in sports.
@tredale (1309)
• Australia
18 Jun 07
Congradulations too you and your daughter on both her pbs and state. As for the father I am sorry too hear this but not suprised so many people live through there childrens experiences and he will be the loser in the end. Children also dont want to see there parents getting jealous, it mostly holds them back as well.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
18 Jun 07
I agree that jealous parents hold their children back.
2 people like this
• Philippines
18 Jun 07
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR DAUGHTER. That was pretty impressive of her and I know you must be very proud of her. As for the other parent, just let it go. He's probably just jealous your daughter made it and wants to bring her a notch down.
3 people like this
• India
18 Jun 07
congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!happy mom.It is a great achievement for your daughter and i guess you are a supporting mom.Where there is a win there is a loss as we know loss brings dissapointment & this is what happened to the person your complaining about.This is not the first time i am hearing such thing happening its very common in any competition so donot worry much about it,keep encouraging your daughter & see that see dont get dissopointed.This is the time to teach her about the sportiveness in any competition,not to care the wins & loses,to just give your best & take it easy.As for the person,he will be alright after few days donot complain about his deeds becouz this might take his jelous to different height.
3 people like this
@djbtol (5493)
• United States
19 Jun 07
The man was jealous and immature, just like a child. Fact of the matter is he may never grow up. Congratulations to your daughter. I'm glad she had a good meet. I'm sure she worked hard to get to where she is. I know that swimming competitively takes a lot of time and effort. Have a wonderful day.
@suscan (1955)
• United States
18 Jun 07
Good for her. That is a lot of work to prepare for these events. Parents should try to be good examples for their children and obviously this parent is not. He should support your daughter since they are in the same club. Hopefully he will encourage his daughter to do better and not encourage her to be jealous like he is.
• United States
18 Jun 07
Congratulations. She seem to be a very disciplined, athletic young lady. I know you must be very proud of her.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jun 07
Congratulations. She seem to be a very disciplined, athletic young lady. I know you must be very proud of her.
1 person likes this
• India
18 Jun 07
dear jennybianca, my personal hearty congratulations to you and to your daughter... i wish her all the good luck and hope to see her as a world famous swimmer..
2 people like this
@yojspew (171)
• Philippines
18 Jun 07
Wow! That's great! Congratulations! I'm pretty sure you're extremely proud of your daughter. ^^;