Courtesy: Harold Baker
This isn’t medical recommendation. Please seek the advice of a physician if you’re experiencing any of the situations described on this article.
In 52 years of teaching, I assumed I had seen all the things. Then POTS got here into our life. This Story is about Gracie Gregory.
At 14 she was a High 3-4 Swimmer within the State in virtually each Occasion. At her December taper meet, she gained each occasion. In January at her subsequent Swim Meet, she walked all the way down to the warm-down pool after an occasion and collapsed on the deck. This was the beginning of a journey that none of us needed.
After seeing a number of Docs and Specialists, Gracie was advised that she had POTS. My 1st query was what’s POTS. I had by no means heard of POTS and needed to analysis it. For 2 years she was unable to coach full-time nor do any of the longer occasions that had been her specialties. I requested a number of school and USA swim coaches about POTS. To my shock, a number of Coaches had POTS youngsters on their Groups. I discovered that between 1 & 3 Million Individuals endure from POTS. Some had milder instances, like Katie Ledecky, and had been in a position to management it. I discovered that others just like the daughter of a Futures referee had been in wheelchairs, some even dropping their sight for a time interval.
For 2 years, Gracie was not in a position to practice full-time. At meets, we pulled her out after her swims and put her in a wheelchair. The superb factor to see was how after 20 minutes she was okay and will race once more at full velocity. An instance was on the State Excessive College Meet her Junior Yr. She was in a battle for the lead within the 500 Free. With a 100 to go, POTS kicked in. Her final 50 was eight seconds slower and he or she positioned third. We pulled her out and put her in a wheelchair. I advised her I used to be changing her within the 400 Free Relay as she solely had 20 minutes to recuperate. She stated “No, I’m swimming”. Ten minutes later she walked all the way down to the warm-down pool, swam a 50 and gave me the thumbs up. She may really feel her legs and arms once more. I put her on the anchor leg, in order to not delay the meet. The first two legs did PRs and Gracie anchored in 51.5. Her greatest time was 52.8 going into the race. The Crew went from sixth in Prelims to being State Champions.
After 2 years with out hardly any greatest occasions, she discovered a physician that determined to go along with Saline infusions twice per week. The change was prompt. She was in a position to practice full time immediately. In six months, we solely had one assault whereas swimming. That was okay as a result of it got here after her 1st Junior Nationwide lower within the 400 I.M.
At her 1st Juniors, she had an assault within the 400 I.M. and ended up just some seconds off her greatest time. The subsequent day she dropped a second within the 200 butterfly. We had made an uncommon determination to journey that night time to a different meet that her teammates had been at and swim the 1650. She not solely made the 1650 Junior Nationwide lower however made the 1000 lower on the way in which out. After the race, she jumped out and walked away with a giant smile on her face. You by no means know what is going to occur when expertise meets POTS.
In the event you solely get one factor out of this story, let it’s to not let your swimmer give up. You may beat POTS. Gracie confirmed us that together with her toughness and talent to not let POTS win it doesn’t matter what comes her manner. The truth that she works about as onerous as any swimmer that I’ve ever coached and has an incredible really feel for the water at all times gave us hope. Her household determined to take a niche 12 months to additional recuperate and provides her an opportunity to achieve a brand new degree. She now has 3 New Junior Nationwide Swims within the final six weeks.
Faculty swimming has turned out to be a much bigger problem. A number of faculty the place Gracie would have been considered one of their greatest swimmers in a number of occasions haven’t proven curiosity. Some are shut by and clearly afraid of the scenario.
A Massive Ten faculty had Gracie and her Mom fly in for a go to. The workers was nice and appreciated that all of us had been so open in regards to the POTS scenario. The Teaching Workers implied that she would have a spot if the medical workers permitted the scenario. A couple of days later the Athletic Coach referred to as and stated that they might not provide her a spot. The coach stated that she doubted that any NCAA faculty would settle for her due to the POTS. 1st off, there are an estimated 2,000 NCAA athletes with POTS. Secondly, do you actually assume any faculty would flip Katie Ledecky down due to POTS. It was very miserable.
We’re again to sq. one in relation to school swimming. If any Coach or Mother or father needs to speak to the Gregory Household or myself about POTS be at liberty to achieve out to us. If anybody is fascinated by Gracie as a Swimmer, please attain out to [email protected].
Gracie wrote an incredible article within the Lafayette Ledger, her highschool information paper, about POTS and the impact on her physique.
Harold Baker – Head Coach
Williamsburg Aquatic Membership
