Saying goodbye to parents and moving onto campus is considered a
life-altering change that thousands of UCLA freshmen deal with each
year.
However, for freshman freestyle swimmer Katherine Wong, her
life-altering change came in December when she lost her father,
Robert Wong.
While most UCLA freshmen were celebrating the end of their first
quarter, Wong, a Hillsborough, Calif. native, had to put her life
as a student-athlete on hold while she coped with the death of her
biggest fan.
“I don’t think it has really hit me yet, that he is
gone,” Wong said. “And in some ways I don’t think
I have accepted it.”
Traveling with the Bruins as they head to the Pac-10
Championships this week, Wong has used swimming to help keep her
mind off the loss. When she does think about her father, Wong
believes staying with the team has been the right choice.
“My dad would have wanted me to swim and take advantage of
my opportunities here,” Wong said. “He’s
instilled optimism in me, and he would have wanted me to keep on
doing what I am doing.”
Robert wasn’t just an athletes’ parent. He was a
regular.
Unlike many parents, Robert made it out to every single one of
his daughter’s swim meets. If the team traveled to Indiana,
he was right on the pool deck, snapping photographs of the scenery,
the crowd and the emotion.
“My dad took so many pictures,” Wong said. “He
was most interested in capturing the surroundings and the reactions
of the spectators.”
After photographing the swim meets, he would post the pictures
on the Internet for the viewing pleasure of the team members and
fans.
“He was a lot like the team dad,” UCLA coach Cyndi
Gallagher said. “He was there at every meet this season, and
everyone appreciated him.”
The appreciation was made public as the team decided to dedicate
its season to him at the season banquet, in memory of his
unfaltering support of the team.
The annual honorary banquet for the Bruins, which followed the
February 12th USC meet, has a tendency to focus on the seniors, who
have dedicated four hard-working years to the program.
Robert’s contribution to the swim team has earned him a
plaque that will hang by the pool in the Student Activities Center
to remind the swimmers and spectators of a man who was unselfishly
and wholeheartedly committed to his children and those involved in
their lives.
“He focused on us,” Wong said. “He really
pushed us to reach for our goals and take advantage of
opportunities.”
That’s a major reason Wong refused to take a break from
school and swimming.
While many may be left debilitated by the passing of a loved
one, unable to continue life as it once was, Katherine has pressed
on, attributing her persistence to a number of factors.
Being away from her loved ones has been especially difficult at
this time, but Los Angeles has quickly become her home away from
home as the swim team has taken on the role of her second
family.
“I have my own family with the team,” Wong said.
“There is such a great bond between us. They are very
supportive and positive.
“The team has helped me cope.”
Wong’s optimistic outlook on life has made it easier for
the team to help her through her loss. With Wong, the glass always
seems half full and her coach has been quick to recognize this.
“Katherine is so positive,” Gallagher said.
“Just like her dad.”
As the final team competition of the season begins today in
Federal Way, Wash., it can be certain that the memory of
Katherine’s father will reside in the thoughts of all the
members.
The man’s legacy, filled with life and love, will live on
through his daughter.
And every time visitors make it out to the Men’s Gym pool,
they will see the plaque hanging and be reminded to seize the
opportunity, just as Wong has continued to do.