First of all, I want to say a big thanks to all the BREAKout! Swimmers in Texas - Katy, Alamo Heights, Inwood, Promontory Pointe, Cibolo, HEAT - Waco and the Illinois clubs Wheaton and Columbia and I’m on my way back to Illionois to Palatine tomorrow. The Mutual of Omaha BREAKout! Swim clinic tour is keeping a fast pace and we’ve yet to taper! Here’s a great pic from the folks at Promontory Pointe Piranahs!

This last month, I released my first book called The Goal and the Glory and I wanted to get you guys excited about these next couple of weeks leading into the Olympics so I decided to include a short piece from a chapter in my book.

There is something special about the Olympic Games. Every your years, we see a glimpse of human greatness, and it inspires us to become something more. These visual images of glory are forever etched in our minds. Berlin 1936: Jesse Owens wins four gold medals as Adolph Hitler looks on. Los Angeles 1984: Mary Lou Retton, with her gold-medal smile, scores a perfect 10 on the vault exercise. Atlanta 1996: Wearing his “gold” shoes in front of a home crowd, Michael Johnson crushes the world record in the 200-meter. Sydney 2000: My teammates Gary Hall, Jr. and Anthony Ervin tie for first in swimming’s premiere event the 50-meter freestyle. Athens 2004: The 4X200-meter freestyle relay team of Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Peter Vanderkay and Klete Keller touch out the Australians, whom they hadn’t beaten in 7 years. I could watch these highlights ever day! (Secret confession: I do!)

But what makes these moments so full of “glory”? They are characterized by beauty, exceptional skill and a degree of excellence seldom encountered this side of heaven. When an athlete overcomes insurmountable odds, we call it a “glorious comeback.” When an athlete nails the perfect routine, run, swim or shot, we call it a “moment of glory.” These moments are special because they help us see that impossible is not only possible, but achievable…

Mutual of Omaha sponsors an art display titled: Visions of Victory. The photos displayed through the San Antonio Art Gallery capture these moments of glory. The spirit of the Olympic games can move us all to dig deeper and dream bigger. We can all be inspired by the journey of others. This summer and next week, tell everyone you know to watch and be encourage to…Dream it…Believe it…BREAK out! Go USA!

See you in Omaha! So far we have 80 swimmers coming to the morning practice before prelims. I only have a few spots left so hurry and sign up! If you want to hear my experience from Omaha and Beijing tune in to my pod cast!