I have to apologize. I haven’t been the best blogger. In fact, if I could call everyone of you I would. [Ask anyone who knows me] I’m a phone guy and learning to be a computer guy. My wife just bought me a MAC computer so I’m slowly becoming friends with my laptop. Of course, who couldn’t become friends with a MAC. This computer is awesome! It just seems so clean and easy. I can’t believe how easy it is to upload videos and photos. I guess you know what that means! My wife is going to expect me to upload all my photos of you guys and take more video footage.

Just like you…my family loves to join me on my journeys (even if it’s via computer). I’m in Beijing now and I’m getting very excited about the Games. I wanted to thank all of those involved in the last three clinics. I don’t have time to write all your names but you guys were fabulous!

This week I’m going to write 16 blogs about the Olympic Games and my experience… I might even give you a sneak peek of my video journal [if I can get it to work!]. These next 2 weeks you’re going to see people who live by our motto…”Dream it…Believe it…Breakout!”

Remember: You might not be an Olympic athlete competing for a Gold Medal these next two weeks, but you can be the best at what you do. I hope you have gold medal performances this week in your area of work, school or sport. And when you do–smile big as if the entire world is watching!

All the best!
Josh

In the month of July, I was in New Port Beach, CA and St. Cloud, FL. I have to confess, I was very excited about getting to the New Port Beach clinic. I knew I would be joined by Randall Bal who just missed making the Olympic Team. Yet, we all know that Randall is one of the fastest backstrokers in the world! Thanks Newport Hills Swim team!
I had a great time in St. Cloud, FL with the St. Cloud Aquatics Team. They let me drop in while I was in Florida for an author’s convention. Thank you guys!
Listen to my pod cast

In August, I finished out my summer clinics in Austin, TX with the Steiner Ranch Stars. What an amazing group! We had over 100 swimmers and lots of parents! Check out their club comments.
Before that I was in New Braunfels, TX with the New Braunfels YMCA. I had a blast with Coach Fredy Degollado and his group. Keep up the great work!

I will be commentating Trials live for NBC. If you can’t make the event, you can catch all the action at www.nbcolympics.com

Also, I’ll keep updating my pod cast

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!

I’m still alive! I’m sorry for the delay in posting another blog but life has been fast and furious in the Josh Davis fast lane! So here’s a quick update since my last entry.

First, I spoke to a great group of people Wilderness Oak Elementary in San Antonio; flew and enjoyed a great BOSC clinic in NJ with Jenny Thompson; flew to Oklahoma to give another BOSC clinic and speak to New Castle elementary school; flew back to San Antonio to give a corporate talk; attended the coolest banquet to honor Dr. Toyoda (The founder of Toyota); hosted another awesome BOSC swim clinic for Fine Silver Ranch; spoke to a great group of elementary students at Freiheit Elementary; flew to CA to host a BOSC in Placerville and Sacramento and had Larsen Jensen join me; flew through the night to get home and host another great BOSC clinic for the Hidden Forest Piranhas; hosted a great BOSC clinic for Fair Oaks Ranch and then turned around and hosted another BOSC for Northwest Crossing; flew to Houston and hosted a BOSC swim clinic for the Maple Wood Marlins; drove to Dallas and was the guest speaker at a church; flew to South Africa to speak to my favorite people (Mutual of Omaha family!); coached a session at The University of Texas swim camp; and raced to get my Olympic Trials cut!!!

That’s right! Today I swam 23.29 in the 50 to qualify to swim at Olympic Trials. I couldn’t help it! I haven’t slept in a few days because of my travel and then I went to bed last night @ 1:00am. I had to get up at 4:00am to drive to Austin to coach for an hour. As I was driving, I couldn’t help but think about all the photos and articles I’ve been seeing about Trials. It’s going to be the most exciting swim meet in HISTORY!

After all these images were racing through my head, I thought, “I can’t miss this!” I can’t miss an opportunity to swim in the most exciting swim meet ever! So after I coached this morning, I signed up for a swim meet that was being held at UT. I was still so tired from no sleep and warm-up felt AWEFUL! Admittedly, I haven’t train a lick. The only thing that keeps me wet is racing all you BREAKout! swimmers. But I went for it! Racers take your mark…I dove in spinning my arms as fast as they would go. I kept thinking, “Come on Josh…just get to the wall so you can swim in Omaha!” I touch the wall and quickly glanced to see my time…I had to go 23.49 to get my cut and to my amazement I went 23.29!!!

Woo..hoo!! I’m swimming in the pool!!! I’ll be hosting swim practices prior to prelims for anyone still interested but I’m going to have to leave a little early to have a little FUN! I can’t wait to see you there! I’m so excited!!