A note about failure: Failure is something that everyone has to define for themselves. I called failure getting third place at the Olympic Trials. Would most any age group swimmer have been pleased with such a performance? You bet. For me, I thought it was the end of the world. I was pretty crushed when I missed the Olympic Team in 1996, but I knew that life went on, whether I chose to keep moving or wallow in self pity for a while. I was close, as close as close could be without being there, but nevertheless, it was about a second off my best time and I know I could have made it.

You'd be amazed at how much of a part your mind can play in your performance as a swimmer. I never believed it until it was proven to me time and time again. I've gone to Nationals more times than I can count (I made my first National cut in 1987) and I swam poorly in the 200 back, then managed to pull my head out of the sand and bounce back for a win or a great swim in my 100. I have no doubt that I have a mental issue with the 200 back (I hate pain, and I think that must have something to do with it). If I can swim a good time in a 100, I should be able to swim well in the 200 as well. Makes sense, right? Theoretically, yes. But why does my 200 still stink when I need it to be fast?? It's in my head. Honestly. So was my "failure" at the Olympic Trials. I was so scared to fail that I gave it power over me. Once you realize that YOU are the one that is giving failure power, you can resolve to take that power away.

Another trick that I've learned from a GREAT sports psychologist here at the Olympic Training Center: approach things from a point of confidence. Don't hold that Jr. National time standard above you, don't be scared of it. What you have to say to yourself is, "I know I can do this. Jr.'s is fast, but I am fast too." For me, when I lose a race, it's because I get scared of the people I am racing. I KNOW I've beaten each and every one of them before, and I need to approach a race like I am the one to beat. I just have to do the things I KNOW how to do, the things I train for, the things WE ALL train for.

Make a list of goals. Mine are easy: 1. Be happy. 2. Train hard 3. Stay healthy. If all these goals are maintained, I believe I can win the Olympics (the REAL goal). So keep note cards, and write on them every day the things that you did to make those goals and dreams a reality. For instance, I wrote down flossing my teeth because I heard somewhere that people who floss are less likely to catch colds and be sick. Hey, I'm stayin' healthy, that's part of the big plan, that's a step toward my big goal. So in a couple of months, if I get scared at a meet, or if I begin to doubt myself, I look at this stack of cards I have that tell me all the things that I have done to make myself the winner I want to be. There's no arguing with that. It builds confidence, it will make sure you don't forget all the hard things you did before you got to your meet. The feelings are the same for me, it might just be a different meet.

I am still scared to go to the Olympic Trials. This will be the fourth try for me, and I haven't ever made it. I know I can, I've been a member of every other National Team that has existed. But I know that if I train hard, stay healthy, and stay happy, I can do anything I set my mind to. It helps, try it for yourself!!

BJ Bedford