It was when I was about twelve, that I figured out swimming really agreed with me,
and for the next twelve years competitive swimming was a central part of my life.
My identity was to a large extent defined by swimming. My schedule revolved
around training and swim meets. My daily routine was to rise before dawn and ride
my bike, along with my sisters single file through the streets of Berkeley, California,
pedaling the slight but steady uphill grade to swim practice at the YMCA where in
that 20-yard basement pool we swam a two-hour workout before school, and
another one after school.