It isn't everyday you get the opportunity to meet an Olympic team member, but some Williams Lake swimmers not only met one, they got coaching and advice from one.
On Friday, Nov. 22, Blue Fins were in the pool with Ingrid Wilm, Canadian Olympic team swimmer and World Cup Aquatics bronze medal winner. Wilm competed in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics and recently brought home bronze from the World Cup Aquatics. Wilm is a top-ranked backstroke swimmer, and just recently placed third in the 50 m backstroke, 100m backstroke and fourth in the 200 m backstroke at the the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup races.
Wilm's appearance was a well-earned reward for the Blue Fins, 30 of whom participated in a national swim-a-thon to raise funds for the club in March 2024.
The swimmers had solicited pledges for the number of lengths they could complete during the swim-a-thon. Super novice swimmers tried to do as many lengths as they could in one hour and senior swimmers swam as far as they could in two hours or up to five km. The Blue Fins raised an impressive $17,098, the majority of which goes back to the club to help pay for pool fees.
With about 30 swimmers participating, the club earned an estimated $570 per athlete, which earned the club the opportunity to get a visit from an Olympic athlete.
Head coach Amanda Nemeth said she then had an opportunity to request which athlete she wanted to come and see the club.
Nemeth had heard Wilm speak at a national coaching conference, and said she was really impressed with Wilm.
"It's so nice to see people who can persevere," said Nemeth, referring to the elbow injuries which Wilm has fought back from over many years.
Nemeth said Wilm's ability to talk openly about things not all athletes would, like nutrition, also seemed like a great opportunity for the young Blue Fin athletes.
She said Wilm is "an inspiration both in and out of the pool" and remains grounded and approachable despite her elite athletic accomplishments.
Wilm did a clinic on backstroke for the senior swimmers at the Cariboo Memorial Complex Friday afternoon, before the younger swimmers then joined to get some tips as well, with the senior swimmers supporting the young swimmers and helping to provide demos.
Clearly at home coaching, Wilm and the young swimmers all appeared to be having fun during the clinic.
After her time in the pool with the Blue Fins, Wilm then made herself available for some question and answers with the young swimmers and their families.
She shared some of her experiences and gave the Blue Fins some advice based on her experiences, having nearly quit the sport in 2019 after her second elbow injury and partly due to a poor relationship with her coach.
"I just knew I wasn't done," Wilm said. So instead of quitting, and despite not being able to swim to a high level as she allowed her elbow to heal, she said she focused on lifting up her teammates while she worked to come back. She also set smaller goals, allowing herself to build back up, showing up even when she could only give 30-50 per cent.
"Whatever you have to give that day is your best," she said.
Wilm provided a lot of insights into both her nutrition, pre-race regimen (which includes listening to K-pop, which is Korean pop music, and how she deals with a bad race and self-doubt.
She said while self-doubt is "always an ongoing battle," the Olympian advised the young swimmers to find one thing they are proud of in a bad race. By focussing on the one thing and working on it for awhile, they can try to leave the rest behind.
"You're allowed to be proud of yourself," she said.
Another great bit of life advice from the 26-year-old Olympian was to just enjoy.
"Just because you're having fun doesn't mean you're not serious about what you're doing," she said.
