“Swimming Against the Tide: The Journey of a Junior National Swimmer Seeking a Collegiate Future”

Courtesy: Harold Baker

This is not medical counsel. Kindly consult a physician if you are facing any of the conditions mentioned in this article.

After 52 years in coaching, I believed I had witnessed it all. Then POTS entered our lives. This narrative revolves around Gracie Gregory.

POTS represents Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. It is a disorder marked by an excessive rise in heart rate when standing or sitting up from a reclining position.

At 14, she ranked among the Top 3-4 Swimmers in the State across nearly every Event. During her December taper meet, she triumphed in every event. In January, at her next Swim Meet, she approached the warm-down pool post-event and fainted on the deck. This marked the commencement of a journey none of us desired.

After consulting multiple Doctors and Specialists, Gracie was diagnosed with POTS. My initial inquiry was regarding the nature of POTS. I had never heard of it and needed to delve into research. For two years, she could not train full-time or participate in any of the extended events that were her forte. I conferred with several collegiate and USA swim coaches regarding POTS. To my astonishment, various Coaches had POTS-afflicted children on their Teams. I discovered that approximately 1 & 3 Million Americans endure POTS. Some experienced milder cases, like Katie Ledecky, who managed to control it. I learned that others, such as the daughter of a Futures referee, were confined to wheelchairs, with some even temporarily losing their vision.

For two years, Gracie could not train full-time. During meets, we would pull her out after her swims and place her in a wheelchair. The incredible sight was how after 20 minutes she was fine and capable of racing again at full speed. An instance was during the State High School Meet in her Junior Year. She was contending for the lead in the 500 Free. With 100 yards remaining, POTS flared up. Her final 50 was eight seconds slower, leading her to finish in 3rd place. We took her out and placed her in a wheelchair. I informed her that I was substituting her in the 400 Free Relay since she only had a 20-minute recovery window. She replied, “No, I am swimming.” Ten minutes later, she strolled down to the warm-down pool, swam a 50, and gave me the thumbs up. She could sense her arms and legs once more. I positioned her for the anchor leg to avoid delaying the meet. The initial two legs achieved PRs, and Gracie anchored in 51.5. Her best time was 52.8 going into the race. The Team progressed from 6th in Prelims to becoming State Champions.

After two years with hardly any best times, she discovered a doctor willing to administer Saline infusions bi-weekly. The improvement was instantaneous. She could begin full-time training immediately. In six months, we experienced only one episode while swimming. That was acceptable as it transpired after her first Junior National cut in the 400 I.M.

At her first Juniors, she encountered an episode in the 400 I.M. and concluded just a few seconds shy of her best time. The subsequent day, she dropped a second in the 200 butterfly. We made a peculiar decision to travel that evening to another meet where her teammates were competing and swim the 1650. Not only did she make the 1650 Junior National cut, but she also achieved the 1000 cut on her way out. Following the race, she leaped out and walked away beaming with a big smile. You never know what might happen when talent confronts POTS.

If you take away only one lesson from this story, let it be to avoid allowing your swimmer to give up. You can conquer POTS. Gracie exemplified this through her resilience and determination not to allow POTS to prevail, regardless of the hurdles she faced. The reality that she trained as hard as any swimmer I have ever coached and possessed an exceptional feel for the water continually inspired us. Her family made the decision to take a gap year to further recuperate and provide her a chance to achieve a new level. She has now secured 3 New Junior National Swims in the last six weeks.

College swimming has emerged as a more formidable challenge. Several schools where Gracie would have excelled as one of their top swimmers in various events have shown little interest. Some are nearby and clearly apprehensive about the circumstances.

A Big Ten institution arranged for Gracie and her Mother to visit. The staff was wonderful and appreciated our openness about the POTS issue. The Coaching Staff suggested that she would secure a spot if approved by the medical staff. A few days later, the Athletic Trainer called to inform us that they could not extend an offer. The trainer expressed doubt that any NCAA institution would accept her given the POTS. Firstly, an estimated 2,000 NCAA athletes are affected by POTS. Secondly, do you genuinely believe any school would decline Katie Ledecky because of POTS? It was incredibly disheartening.

We find ourselves back to the beginning regarding college swimming. If any Coach or Parent wishes to discuss POTS with the Gregory Family or myself, please do not hesitate to contact us. If anyone is interested in Gracie as a Swimmer, please reach out to [email protected].

Gracie authored an excellent article in the Lafayette Ledger, her high school newspaper, discussing POTS and its impact on her body.

Harold Baker – Head Coach

Williamsburg Aquatic Club