This summer, I had the opportunity to watch University of North Carolina diver Aranza Vazquez practice as she prepared for the 2024 Summer Olympics. For a week, while eating breakfast and lunch, I sat in the stands of UNC’s Koury Natatorium and watched Vazquez as she worked on her dives.
Vazquez is an accomplished collegiate diver. In the past two years, she has won four NCAA championships. However, at the Olympics this year, Vazquez did not earn a medal.
This made me wonder: what exactly makes a champion? Is it the number of medals won? Is it standing on a podium? Or, are there qualities that make a person a champion regardless of the outcome?
Coach David Hart, Director of Aquatics at The Baldwin School, believes there are.
“As a coach, I value character and want to coach athletes who honor their teammates with their effort,” Coach Hart said. “We don’t dwell on who touches a wall before someone else or how many medals someone has.”
Many Baldwin athletes also agree that champions are not defined by the number of medals they earn.
“Especially at a school as academically rigorous as Baldwin, the large amount of time put into sports after school really shows the dedication and passion that Baldwin athletes have for their sports,” diving team captain Audrey Lawler ‘25 said.
Cross Country team captain Olivia Stankiewicz-Goldsmith ‘25 agrees.
“There are many hurdles that student-athletes face. Balancing hard days at school and challenging practices can be difficult, but they step up to the challenge and know to lean on their support system when needed,” Stankiewicz-Goldsmith said.
Whether it is high school, college, or professional athletics, champions are created through their focus and determination.
“Dedication and effort are key factors in building a champion on and off the field. Getting to the final destination requires work, and meaningful work isn’t always easy,” Stankiewicz-Goldsmith said. “Champions are able to push [through these adversities] while maintaining a positive growth mindset.”
Watching Vazquez tirelessly trying to perfect her dives spoke to this attitude. When a dive wasn’t perfect, she would pull herself out of the water, meet her coach at the replay screen, and analyze every aspect of the movement, pinpointing what went wrong.
Then, she would climb back onto the board and try again.
This resilience and dedication, not medal counts, define true champions. Vazquez embodies this spirit, regardless of Olympic outcomes. I believe her unwavering commitment to her sport makes her a champion.
