“I didn’t really understand at that age that’s what my dad was doing,” recalls Brown, who lost his father last summer. “As I grew older, I never really changed up what I wanted to do, I always had this idea in my head that I would be an engineer.”
Brown adds in the time of instability since his father’s passing, the sport offered a sense of regularity and routine, helping keep him grounded.
“When my father passed away, I never thought about quitting. I took some time off to be with my family, but leaving the sport never crossed my mind. It provided me with a good outlet for my emotions, and brought balance to my life,” says Brown.
I stuck with the sport because I love it. My father was heavily involved with the swimming community as a referee, so I know that finishing my full eligibility would make him proud.