Girls varsity swim captain, senior Lin Aung, has swam for 13 years and spent four of those years on the Berlin swim team.

   “My mom put me in swim lessons when I was 5 because I loved the water so much. After that she put me on the team and it just stuck,” Aung said.

   Throughout her high school career, Aung had many different experiences that stuck with her profoundly.

     “I don’t even remember where I was swimming this, but I was doing a 500 Freestyle in an outdoor long course pool one summer. I was in an outside lane and there was seemingly nothing between me and the gorgeous sunrise next to me. I distinctly remember the burning in my lungs coupled with the morning sky made me so thankful for my health and ability to swim long distance,” Aung said.

   Aung valued camaraderie with her teammates as they were a part of some of her core memories on the team.

   “[It was fun] playing in the snow with my teammates in just our suits. I never knew the cold could be so painful but so good at the same time,” Aung said.

   Aung had a major dedication to her role as a captain to be a rock for the team. 

   “To me, being captain means helping the team in any way possible. It means leading by example and making sure I provide opportunities for everyone to feel closer with their fellow swimmers and divers,” Aung said.

   There were hurdles throughout her journey that both motivated her to persistently pursue the sport and have shaped her into who she is today.

   “There was a large period of time in the middle of my career where I was severely doubting myself as a person and a swimmer. I think she [her younger self] would be very proud that I’ve found a team that I feel like I really belong in, and that I continue to improve and love the sport as a whole,” Aung said. 

  However, Aung found motivation and confidence in her former swim coach.

   “He coached me until 2019 and I miss how confident I felt in swimming when he was my coach. He always believed in me and what I was capable of, pushed me hard, and he was genuinely a good and funny person,” Aung said.

   Even after her high school journey is over, Aung has no plans to halt her passion for the sport.

  “Academically, my next step is pre-nursing at OSU. They have a swim club there and a beautiful pool that I know well, so I’ll probably continue swimming there as well,” Aung said.