Rockwall Aquatics Center

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ONE MORE STEP: A POEM BY OLYMPIC CHAMPION NEIL WALKER
This summer, many swimmers’ careers will end. Some, like Eugene Godsoe and Tyler Clary, will say their goodbyes to millions of fans around the world. Others will say goodbye just to their families and teammates. Almost all swimmers will end a season this summer, and in either case, it means the end of a cycle. In the narrative of swimming, it’s the end of a verse, the end of a chapter, or for many the end of the entire story and a plunge into new adventures.
Neil Walker, a two-time Olympian and four-time Olympic medalist in 2000 and 2004, sent this poem out to his team at the Rockwall Center of Excellence outside of Dallas about swimming and the end of a journey. A member of his team shared it with SwimSwam in the hopes that it might inspire others.
One thousand steps to get here, and you’re almost at the end,
up and down the mountain, good thing you have a friend.
Through broken glass, and coals on fire, not sure the path is right,
through thick and thin you force a grin and continue on to fight.
Pushing against a boulder, then climbing a slippery wall,
carrying those that need it, you feel you’re about to fall.
You’ve pushed so hard with courage, fighting tooth and nail,
so often at the brink of it, you half expect to fail.
Receiving help from teammates, just when the end is near,
one more step to go, but you’re frozen stiff with fear.
You’re on the starting blocks my friend with one more step to go,
no one is there behind you, to give you one last tow.
But wait there is a feeling, that surges from the depths,
you do have those that walked with you, those thousand grueling steps.
They are there to help you, by cheering loud and clear,
so focus on what got you there, and fight away the fear.
You’ve trained so hard to get here, the path was rarely clear,
but now the clouds have parted, the starter’s gun is near.
Take that step you’ve worked for, you’ve earned it through and through,
take that thousandth step that’s been taken by so few.
Finish this last race, knowing it’s a job well done,
and no matter where you finish, you should know that you have won!

CATCHING UP WITH NEIL WALKER
As the Aquatic Director of the Rockwall Swim School and Head Coach of the Rockwall Aquatic Center of Excellence (RACE), Neil Walker is largely the face – and name – of the program.
Considering his highly successful competitive background – two Olympics, multiple World and Pan Pacific Championships teams, several international individual and relay medals and someone recognized by his teammates as a leader – it would be easy to assume he has students and parents lined up outside the facility’s doors pining for his attention and tutelage.
And while that’s largely true – both programs have continued to grow each year since 2009 – things don’t always proceed as one might expect. “My name and credentials are a selling point, and they certainly give me and the program instant credibility, but I’ve actually found it to be a detriment in some cases,” Walker said. “When you have a great facility and an Olympian coach, the assumption of success can be a problem. This is where our staff steps in to educate parents and swimmers about having realistic and attainable expectations.”
Just as was the case when he was competing, Walker is led today by his vision to succeed with the Rockwall programs.
At the core, the intention of the swim school and RACE is to help kids and adults learn to swim and to feed the swim team with kids who have basic competitive swimming skills.
Through a transitional program, kids can start swimming at age 1-3 and continue to swim through high school, and maybe even come back and swim in the Master’s program. The facility, located east of Dallas, is owned by the Rockwall School District and is a premiere aquatic facility that holds nearly 1 million gallons of water.
The RACE swim team is only five years old and achieved Silver Medal Club Excellence status this year, improving from Bronze status last year. It’s a designation Walker and his staff are excited about and committed to every day at the pool.
“We have an amazing team of coaches, district staff and parents who help run our facility, team and other aquatic programming,” said Walker, who said he doesn’t swim much anymore except to stay in good enough shape so he doesn’t get winded walking up a flight of stairs. “Continuing to see kids learn to swim, then learn to swim fast! That’s what it’s all about.”
Walker’s swimming career was one filled with many successes – highlighted by making the 2000 and 2004 Olympic teams where he won multiple relay medals – but he said it was the 1996 Olympic Trials that has left the greatest lasting impression.
He missed making the Atlanta Olympic team by .01 in the 100 freestyle but rebounded a couple of weeks later by helping his University of Texas teammates win the NCAA Championship.
It was sweet redemption that left an indelible impression and taught him a valuable lesson – one he passes onto his pupils at Rockwall.
“From my perceived ‘ultimate failure’ – which turned out to be the best thing for me – by missing the Olympics, to being a part of a National Champ team was an important life lesson that helped shape me as a person,” Walker said. “It taught me how to rebound from adversity, accept and embrace the importance of teammates and coaches as a support system and gave me perspective that it wasn’t the end of the world.”
Following the 2004 Games, Walker said he originally wasn’t sure he wanted to go four more years and work toward making a third Olympic Team, but 2006 Pan Pacific Championships, where he was part of the United States’ world record-setting 400 freestyle relay, reinvigorated his motivation and desire.
That, coupled with being elected by his swimming peers as a team captain on the 2005, 2006 and 2007 U.S. National Teams, made him realize he still wanted more.
“Being voted team captain in college and on national teams is something I am very proud of,” Walker said. “I was/am an introverted person by nature, so it was difficult for me to take on a leadership role. This prepared me for being a leader in the roles I have now.”
At 2008 Trials in Omaha, he missed making the team – joking he was two-for-four in Olympic Trials and batted .500, which is awfully good – and decided that would be his last meet.
Now, sharing a life with wife of 13 years April, a nurse practitioner and overseeing the programs at Rockwall are the perfect marriage that Walker said provides him with passion and commitment that were always factors in his swimming success.
I had so much fun training and competing into my late 20s and early 30s that I wanted to keep going as long as I could make national teams,” Walker said. “It’s amazing how much real-world experience I use every day that I learned from being a part of so many great teams, from high school, to college to Nationals.
“It was worth every yard. It was so worth it, that my career path is based on convincing others to try and do the same thing. I very much enjoyed working with (University of Texas coaches) Eddie Reese and Kris Kubik for 14 years. The value of that mentorship is incalculable.”