It was just over seven weeks ago when the women's swim team was about to start its final weight session before leaving to the NCAAs to be held in Georgia the week after. There were increasing rumours about teams pulling out, but we were still positive and ready to crush it. After we had finished our warm-up, our coaches, Teri McKeever and Dani Korman, walked into the weight room at Haas Pavilion with stale and shocked faces. The NCAAs had been cancelled.
 
Disbelief, shock and tears quickly spread the room. I remember Teri saying that this was the first moment she had ever truly been speechless. We all had to face the reality that our moment to show everyone who the Bears were had just been taken away. At the same time, my heart sank for the seniors who had just heard that their swimming careers had come to an end.
 
Not knowing what to do, most people went home to re-gather themselves, with the aim of quickly coming back again to keep swimming because the Olympics were still on. I spontaneously took a flight to Florida to see my best friend. My stay, initially planned for four days, turned into five weeks. By this time, we heard that the Olympics had been postponed to 2021, yet I was not ready to go home to the Netherlands. I didn't want give up the 12-yard pool in the backyard in Florida. Teri has always had a creative approach to what it means to be a world-class swimmer and that has been a blessing, especially now. She has opened up our eyes to all the various opportunities to get better no matter what length the pool is, or even without one at all. 
 
As week five rolled around, and the sad news came that a close family friend of mine had passed away because of COVID-19, I realized that it was time for me to go home. It became very clear to me that in unprecedented times like these, family is the most important of all.
 
While swimming is everything to me, I have learned more than ever that this sport is more than just swimming up and down a black line, something that is especially true when you're a Golden Bear. During weekly meetings on Zoom that are accompanied with incredible alumnae speakers, we come together as a team, reflecting on our year and talking through how we can become better athletes and better people. Whether it means finding a new hobby, finally finding the time to meditate, trying out a new recipe, or experimenting with home workouts, we are finding numerous ways to get through it together.
 
Despite being on the other side of the world from most of my teammates now, I still feel incredibly connected with them, as they are my family, too. And I guess, just like everyone else, I reflect on this crisis and what we can all learn from it.  I am convinced we will come out better and stronger …. albeit in a new reality, but with the same Golden Bear spirit.
 
Go Bears!