I was the guy on the swim team entertaining the bus on the way to the meets.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Looking back on my career, some of the hardest times - eight people at a show, 12 people on a bus - were some of the most fun.
It really was my brother who got me involved in swimming. I wanted to be just like him and do everything he was doing.
I also used to work in the Catskill Mountains as a bus boy, and I performed in talent shows.
Traveling to swimming meets took me beyond my small-town existence, gave me a hint of the exciting world outside of my own home.
I was involved in a bunch of school activities - I was a cheerleader, I was on the chess team, I was vice president of my class.
I was a competitive swimmer in middle school and high school.
I played lacrosse for a hot second, but I was mainly a swimmer - captain of my swim team.
I was captain of the volleyball team and the basketball team, and I ran track.
I worked as a singing, dancing busgirl in high school.
I took my daily swim at the Beverly Hills Hotel pool despite the presence of onlookers.