# @jrryswim on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C79eJzAAHIR
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/24195628-jrryswim-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/bf21ad32f9.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-06-08T16:00:14.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Jerry Chen 🐸 (@jrryswim) — https://gondola.cc/jrryswim

## Caption

↓ Storytime: My mom told me to quit swim

In 8th grade, my mom told me to quit swimming. At the time, she saw no future in the sport (fairly) and with college being a big target for Asian moms, she reasonably believed that focusing on my studies would be my ticket into university 🎟️

However, I pushed back, as from an early age, swimming had been the passion in my life. I knew what I was capable with my work ethic and dedication. While I did not think I was capable of collegiate swimming or even making the Olympic Trials, I wanted to continue. For me, swimming has never been about the accolades or medals or even racing. It was all about pushing myself to be the best I can be. I wanted to achieve mastery 📊

This video symbolizes the weeks, the months, the years, of repetitiveness to have success. It symbolizes the infinite sacrifices in the form of weekends and spending my breaks at the pool training. It’s about the work that happens in the dark that nobody sees 📈

In each of the five years of college swimming, I can count the practices I’ve missed on my hands. Each day is long, tiring, and draining. I’m often in my head about practice. I get burnt out and I hate swimming.  And yet, I still wish to experience it all for this sport. I love this sport and its ups and downs ❤️

As I reflect on my career with 2024 Olympic Trials marking an end of a fantastic chapter of my life, I can’t help but be overwhelmed with emotions. Swimming has brought me so many gifts in the form of relationships, experiences, and life lessons. Without it, I would have never been the person I am today. I would never have the relationships I have with my mentors and friends. I have so many things I owe to the sport of swimming 🙏

I want to pay forward the gifts swimming has given me. I’m incredibly blessed to have this account be my platform for this and I’m excited to keep inspiring swimmers around the globe to strive to be the best they can 🌎

Thank you to @jguo.visuals for putting together this cinematic video as the ending of my wonderful chapter.  Give him a follow!

#swim #swimmer #swimming #swimlife #cinematic #cinematicvideo #everyday #training #dailylife #grind #consistency

## Stats

- **Views:** 19,157
- **Likes:** 1,566
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 48

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jerry Chen 🐸 | @jrryswim | https://gondola.cc/jrryswim | Athlete |
| Jon Guo | @jguo.visuals | https://gondola.cc/jguo.visuals | Creative |

## Tags

swimming, swimlife, grind, cinematicvideo, training, dailylife, swimmer, consistency, cinematic, swim, everyday

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