DQ

In our world DQ used to stand for Dairy Queen which was usually a pretty good thing. Now that Emily is swimming in meets we have been introduced to a new definition for DQ...disqualified.

This weekend was Emily's home meet. She was excited to try a couple different events. For the first time she wanted to try the 100 IM. This is a medly race meaning that she swims four laps one of each stroke (25 butterfly, 25 back, 25 breast, and finish with 25 freestyle). It is a tough event for the younger ones but Emily was insistant that she try and we let her decide what she swims for the most part.

Emily had a great meet. She placed in all three of her events until her 25 meter butterfly. She got disqualified. Butterfly is by far the toughest stroke to do well. The two things that always catch Emily is that your arms must always come all the way out of the water and you must keep your feet together. When you get a little tired these are tough things to keep up with. Like any event the rulings depend on the refs. Some meets the refs are little easier on the younger ones than others. Our meet ref was tough and pretty much DQ all of the 8 and under butterfly competitors.

Emily had been DQ before...it is part of the sport especially for the younger ones. However, she was ready to make some corrections and get ready for her last even which also included 25 meters of the fly.

Emily did awesome in her 100IM....but the ref once again DQ her. Her coach was really upset and argued with the head ref but lost. When Emily got finished I had to tell her and the big tears that welled up in her eyes was almost more than I could take. This was the first time that she really felt she gave it her all and she was super disappointed. She would have gotten first place for the first time in any event.

Her grandparents that were spectating were frustrated with the ref as was I. We focused on the positive but we could just see Emily's disappointment. We are all so very proud of her. We have told her all of the things needed (next time, you tried your best, etc) and she knows that. It is still hard.

"That Mom"

This past weekend Emily had her first swim meet. I was so nervous we didn't know what to expect. Emily did awesome. She even metaled! She is so tiny that I worried that she wouldn't do well. Not that it matters to me but she really wanted to do well. She told me that she just wanted one metal. I knew that with close to 300 entrants that would be a tough act to pull off.

Since this was Emily's first meet it was really important that she get times in all of her events and not get disqualified. For her age (7) her two most difficult strokes are the breaststroke and the butterfly. She got disqualified in the breastroke but timed great in the butterfly.

This is Emily getting ready for the 25 meter backstroke. She did awesome.
Look at the girls behind her...notice any size difference?
I would just like to point out the girl on the block next to Emily's. Her leg is as big as Emily is. This was Emily doing the 50 meter freestyle. They don't have an 8 and under range for the 50 so she gets bumped up to 12 and under. It didn't bother her at all.

This is Emily's swim coach. When I first talked to her about Emily joining the swim team she gave me some resistance. She doesn't usually start the kids until they are 8. She is now one of Emily's biggest supporters.
Some of the older kids wrote on their backs for encouragement for their meet. Emily loved the idea and had one of the older girls write on her back too.

Overall it was an awesome experience and we can't wait for this weekends' meet. Every time Emily got ready to swim in a race my heart raced and tears pooled in my eyes. I can't believe I became "that mom" so quickly. I am so proud of her. At one point she took the lead in her heat and I got so choked up I could barely speak let alone cheer out loud for her. Of course I quickly got it together and started yelling my head off. This video is of Emily in her backstroke race. She won her heat and looked awesome!

Adriana