The Last Lesson with Swim Coach Steve Hadley (3/16/22)

Last fall after telling my coworker Ben that I'd been taking my son to the local YMCA for swimming lessons he asked me if Coach Steve was still giving lessons and explained that he was interested in taking more lessons with Steve if possible.  I asked who coach Steve was, and Ben explained that Coach Steve was about 90 year old and had taught him to swim in his fourties. 

The next time I took my son to swim lessons I saw an older shirtless man walking the pool deck while giving lessons.  When he passed I asked if he was Steve, and he responded "Yes, I am," with a grin.   I explained that Ben was interested in taking lessons, and Steve said that group lessons has been cancelled due to COVID.  I then asked if Ben and I could take private lessons and Steve agreed to begin teaching us for 30 minutes at 6p on each Wednesday.

I'd learned how to swim when I was younger and swam competitivly for a bit in elementary school. I'd been thinking it would be nice to begin swimming for again for excersize, so I was excited to begin swim lessons with Coach Steve.  

During our first lesson I felt exhausted swimming only a few 25M laps.  Coach Steve seemed to see everything and quickly began transforming my strokes.  Beyond having an eye for swimming techniques and how to improve, Coach Steve was masterful at pushing us to improve our endurance. I remember several evenings when I finished another set and wanted to give up, Coach Steve seemed to know exactly how we felt, how hard to push, and when to ease up.  In a few months we went from swimming a few laps in each half hour lesson to over 50.

Ben and I had the opportunity to work with Coach Steve for about 6 months and are beyond grateful for this experience.  Hands down meeting and working with Coach Steve was the best thing that happened to me in 2021.  Coach Steve is a living inspiration on so many levels and inspired me to work harder, be kinder, and become a life long swimmer.  I'll forever be thankful for having had the opportunity to meet and work with Coach Steve!