July 1, 2006

My past four years in Maryland was full of action. In the first two years, I had 4 different coaches who arrived and then left each semester. Having a new coach each semester required adaptations and a lot of changes. They always said they will make me fast but it never really happened. They did not agree with the workouts that I was used to and they had their own ideas.

I made it to the NCAA Championships in my freshmen year but I got slower each year. It made me hate swimming. I participated at the practices but did not give any effort into it.

It was the summer of 2004 and I was on a vacation with my family when the Olympic games just began. I was looking at the TV and saw the Hungarian team on the screen. I started crying because I felt like I have lost something. I could have been there with the team like in 2000 but I just wasn't. It made me realize what I wanted.

After that summer, I decided to focus on swimming again. I wanted to justify to myself that I was capable of doing it again. So, after 2 years of struggle, I started swimming again - but this time I was doing it from the bottom of my heart. I wanted my dream come true and I wouldn't let anybody take it from me by convincing me that I should follow his program.

I did half year practicing by myself, spending 6-7 hours at the pool every day, and getting the practices from home. It worked out well and I got second at ACCs on the 200 breast and I also got another chance to participate at the NCAA Championships. I was on the right way to accomplishing my goals when again all the coaches left, and Dave Durden appeared at the pool deck.

I thought it was going to be another year of fighting and disagreement with the new coaching staff. I told him I wanted to do it by myself because I knew I was capable of it. He said he wanted a team. I didn't quite understand him at that time. He said he didn't doubt that I was able to reach my goals but with his and the team's help I could do even better. I was so in love with swimming and would have done anything to get better so his sentence got me.

I gave it a chance, for him and for the team. We had many fights and arguments together, I cried a lot and refused to practice several times but after a couple of months both of us settled down. We finally understood the expectations.)

It was a hard period of time for everybody else on the team, too. The team had not practiced that hard. Dave came here and changed it. We did not have a close relationship with each member on the team and Dave changed it. We did not have a clear goal before and Dave changed it. We did not encourage each other and Dave changed it. Dave has changed everything.

I realized what had happened at the ACC Championships when the 100 breaststrokers were getting ready for final. I was not alone. I had the whole team beside me, encouraging me, and cheering me on for the last 25 yards. I got second unexpectedly. Finally, I understood why Dave needed a team from the first day he came here. I couldn't have done this without my team's help. They gave me the power. I earned two second places at ACCs and contributed to the team's relay, which got third place. They were the best performance in my life.

After that we had to focus on two things. To score at the NCAAs, something I had never done in my life, and to go home and compete in three days to get my spot on the national team. It couldn't have been tougher. People were preparing the whole year just to score at NCAAs. And others were ready to attack at the Hungarian championships to make the national team. Despite the difficulties, I made both of the goals. But I have to say that the only reason I did it because of the team's help and the coaches' preparation. I have all the thanks in the world for them!

Now, we are in the middle of the preparation for the European Championships. Most likely, it will be the last swim meet in my life. I would like to finish my career with my best performance not only because this is my last competition but also because the European Championships will be held in my country. The opportunity has been given, now I just have to prove that I am capable. I have the best circumstances over here, the whole team and coaching staff helping me. I couldn't ask for more.