08/10/2024
Love you Simone and So happy to see you shine š„°
Itās different this time aroundā¦ not perfect BUT so many pools and pools of progress achieved! š
Around this time 3 years ago, on August 2nd, my 25th birthday, I flew back home from the Tokyo Olympic Games completely broken. It felt like my whole world came crashing down, and I was devastated, depressed, embarrassed, and disappointed to name a few. This time around, Iām reinvigorated! Sure, Iām bummed about how I performed, but I canāt help but accept and acknowledge the massive strides I made in the face of headwinds and the winding roads I traveled to reach my goals.
In moments like these itās really easy to overlook the good. Itās easy to think about what didnāt happen or what didnāt go right, but Iāve learned that in these moments, itās even more crucial to recognize the WINS and to be thankful for how far God has brought me and how He has sustained me EVERY šš¾ SINGLE šš¾ DAY šš¾throughout this journey.
Gratefully, thereās too many wins to count.
- I set my eyes on overcoming extreme adversity and struggleā¦ DID THAT!
- Despite the progress feeling marginal and few along the way, day after day, over the past 2 years, I fought tooth and nail physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to qualify for my 3rd Olympic team for the fastest country in the worldā¦ DID THAT!
- I earned and won 2 Olympic Silver medalsā¦ DID THAT!
Last time around, I did everything I could, fell well short of my goals, was unhealthy, unhappy and unfulfilled. This time around, I devoted myself to āprogress over perfection.ā I rose to the occassion, leaned into the struggle and understood that, in more ways than one, itās my greatest strength. I did everything I could, Iām that much closer to where I want to be, Iām healthy, happy, and filled with even more passion for the sport than before ā¤ļøāš„ ~never knew that was possible~ š„¹
While I rest up to prepare for the next stop on my journey, Iām choosing to give myself grace. Grace isnāt a symptom of complacency. Trust me, Iām not that. Itās a sign of resilience, maturity and awareness. Itās recognizing that I deserve to give myself kindness, compassion, and love even when I fall short of my expectations. To continue to speak life and positivity into my life like so many of you have done for me over the past 3 years and beyond.
Itās no coincidence that on the heels of my 28th birthday, I can joyfully welcome the gifts, blessings, and lessons Iāve received in life ā that I can be even more empowered by all my highs and my lows, my triumphs and defeats. Iāve got a lot to be proud of. I climbed more than one mountain, I touched more than one valley, and I bloomed more than thrice. I didnāt flop, flounder, fail, break, bend, or fold. I won!
I know that I am so much more than a swimmer. So much more than the races Iāve won or lost, the records, Iāve broken, or the history Iāve made. The person that I am and the character I posses is what makes those things come into fruition. Itās when the heart of a champion is shown, so I have no bigger mission than to continue to nurture and prune THAT Simone because āI know Iām a winner,ā and the best is still yet to come!
Signed first and foremost - Simone Manuel
ā¦ with some other superlatives ā 3x Olympian, 7x Olympic Medalist š„š„š„š„š„š„š„
Lastly, write your own story. Donāt let other people write your story or put a tombstone on your hopes and dreams. Words matter. They always have, and they always will, but you have control over what you listen to. Speak life into your life. Speak life into YOUR journey, YOUR race, YOUR marathon. OWN IT!!! because ācomparison is the thief of joy.ā (T. Roosevelt) The journey means nothing if youāre not doing it for you! Take pride in the struggle, be an unstoppable force, persevere with patience and courageā¦ Thatās when you win!
ā¤ļøāš„ Merci beaucoup, Paris!
