Fondly recalling their childhoods, many remember scoring that goal or winning a race. But growing up doesn’t have to mean the end of team sports.
Two swimmers, Rossella Pescatori and Chris Wall, have kept competing as adults, which helps them both recall how they fell in love with the water in the first place.
Ms. Pescatori, 45, was heartbreakingly close to competing in the Olympics for her native Italy. She placed third in the 200-meter breaststroke in the trials both in 1988 and in 1992, just missing the team by one spot.
Now, the mother and part-time swim coach approaches competitions differently.
“The atmosphere at the local meets is friendly, and there is no pressure,” Ms. Pescatori said. “Anytime you finish a race, you win. I should have taken that attitude when I was younger. I would have performed better.”
Ms. Pescatori coaches twice per week for Southern California Aquatics (SCAQ) in El Segundo. A group of her swimmers are interested in competing, and she is creating a blog to encourage more to join them: competitivescaq@blogspot.com
Mr. Wall, 54, who came into SCAQ with no swimming experience, said the environment at the meets is “encouraging” for all levels of swimmers.
Mr. Wall started up SCAQ at the Culver City Municipal Plunge in 2007. He credits the club with changing his lifestyle. Though he used to run track in college, he found he no longer could run the way he once did.
Mr. Wall decided to try swimming, an exercise that does not put weight on the joints.
After realizing that he missed competing, Mr. Wall now has participated in 25 meets.
Despite picking up the sport in middle age, he has had several breakout performances. In 2013, he placed third in his age group for the 50 free at Nationals, and in 2014, his relay placed first, also at Nationals.
Both Mr. Wall and Ms. Pescatori view swimming as a stress-reliever from their busy days.
“I swim when I need to vent my pent-up energy,” Ms. Pescatori says. “It’s exercise for every part of the body.
“You work out everything in an hour. When you’re done, you also are clean.”
Swimmers interested in competing, visit Ms. Pescatori’s blog at competitivescaq@blogspot.com and post a reply with her contact information. You may email her at rpescatori@gmail.com.
Ms. Artley may be contacted at news@swim.net
