Fifty years ago, my parents traveled to the Caucasian Mineral Waters. The mountains, the narzans, the clear air, and the long walks... Apparently, this is where my story began. Back then, I was a rather microscopic creature with a tail, but I was probably quite fast. According to biology, the fertilizing speed of a sperm cell is around 25 meters per second. This means that I was swimming much faster back then than I am now. Half a century has passed, and I have returned to these places, but not as a life force, but as a person with experience, a well-established destiny, and thousands of kilometers of water behind me. I have returned to swim again. However, this time it's not about swimming in millimeters, but in meters, and it's not about pushing competitors for survival, but about mastering the techniques of the front crawl and butterfly. But it's still about speed! It's as if the first start I made here half a century ago has been rekindled. There's something symbolic about it. Once upon a time, I fought for the right to be born, and now I'm fighting for the right to be faster than myself.
Interestingly, a year ago, I was swimming faster in terms of seconds. However, this time it's different - it's lighter, more meaningful, and without excessive tension or pushing myself to the limit. It's as if returning to the starting point doesn't require proof, but rather requires acceptance of oneself.
The Caucasian Mountains seem to be the same. The air seems to be as clear as ever. In this clarity, it becomes particularly evident that life is not a linear progression but a series of returns. Sometimes, it's a return to the roots, and sometimes, it's a return to oneself.
p.s. This essay is not about "I won," but rather about "I understood." It's about the state where the outcome aligns with the strategy, whereas usually, the strategy justifies the outcome. However, this time, it's not just about a successful start, but rather about realizing that speed is attainable without excessive exertion, marking the beginning of my preparation for the 2027 World Championships. It's also significant that this happened in the place where my life may have begun.
