The Importance of ‘We’ Over ‘Me’

Hi, I’m Peter Vanderkayy, and I’m a TrueSport athlete. Even though there is only one person from each relay team in the pool at a time, that doesn’t mean that swimming doesn’t require teamwork in order to be successful. No matter what sport, teammates need to know and support each other’s roles in order to maximize success. This kind of support for one another is what helped my teammates and I to win the gold medal in the four by 200, and four by 100 freestyle relays at the 2008 Summer Olympics, setting two world records in the process.

Without teamwork and supporting one another, we never would’ve achieved our goal of swimming our best at the Olympics. Remember, a great team relies on unity, good chemistry, and individuals who think, we, not me. Even if you are not racing at a meet, you can still be a good teammate by supporting and cheering on your teammates. If you are lucky like me, the bond you make with your teammates will turn into lifelong friendships.