A Tribute to Sheila

After reading John and Warren’s posts, I had to ask myself “why am I really going to Perth?” Sure, there’s the quest for that elusive medal, and the opportunity to be on a relay with swimming greats John Morales and Warren Schenstrom (and let’s not forget our breastroke recruit from Santa Clara, Dave Hendrickson), but the real reason I’m going to Perth can be summed up in two words: Mali Apple.

Most of you already know the “Sheila” with the Pom Poms in the picture above, but I’d bet there are few that know the story of how this particular Sheila came to be a swimmer. And since John’s been bugging me incessantly to contribute something to his fine blog, and Mali was kind enough to provide this picture (although she might not have had she known that I would make her the focus of my post!), I knew I couldn’t pass up this opportunity…

On a cold and breezy day four-plus years ago, not long after we met through the M4W section of the upscale cyber-marketplace, Craigslist, Mali decided she wanted to join me for an afternoon swim. What I didn’t know at the time was that Mali had an inordinate fear of swimming, having experienced near-drowning many times as a child at the hands of her sadistic older brother. But that day, Mali gamely sucked in what seemed to be two lung’s worth of air, put her face in and began a tortuous journey across the expanse of the JCC’s 25 yard pool. Time seemed to stand still as Mali fought valiantly against the swells, finally emerging at the far end, completely out of breath, and shivering down to her core. “This relationship will never work”, I thought to myself. “I’m going back to Craigslist…”

But unbeknownst to me, Mali had already decided that she was going to be a swimmer, signing up at the local pool in Sebastopol for evening lap swim. Within a few short months, Mali had outgrown the program with its amateur coaching, and lured by the Sirens’ Song of Masters Swimming, Mali discovered Hermine’s infamous “Morning Thunder” workout at Ridgway Swim Center. Alternately ignored or chastised for her atrocious strokes (butterfly comes to mind), Mali nevertheless persevered until that glorious day when she heard these words through the fog: “HEY Mali, move over to lane 4!” In a split-second, the realization that Hermine really DID know her name had made those cold, dark, crack-of-dawn morning practices all worthwhile. Not to mention getting to move up a lane…!

Bolstered by that success, Mali quickly expanded her sphere of influence in Masters Swimming, spearheading such renowned projects as the “My Coach is Hotter Than Your Coach” t-shirt, and becoming a one-woman recruiting center, pitching the benefits of Coach Hermine and her motley crew to anyone who would listen.

So I’d like to use John’s Blog to pay tribute to our very own “Sheila”, who has come so far in such a short time, and who has inspired me and countless others to drag our butts down to the pool on a (more) regular basis.

Thanks Mali!

Joe

P.S. And although she claims to be going to Perth solely to be the team cheerleader, we're betting the allure of the 50 meter pools in the Challenge Stadium will be too great to resist...