MARSYVILLE Senior M-P swimmer Keito Swan continues to live with the scars from an accident involving a school bus.
The morning of Oct. 27, 2005 stands out in his mind not only because it took him away from his classmates, but perhaps more importantly it brought his swim season to an abrupt halt.
Though most of his junior season was wiped away with the injury and rehabilitation, he returned to swim an exhibition heat of the 50-yard freestyle Jan. 31 during the teams last regular-season meet.
Swan was quoted as saying I feel good, in the Feb. 8 edition of The Globe and received a round of applause after stepping out of the pool.
While most in attendance thought the 90-day turnaround was a pretty quick and inspirational comeback, Swan said it felt like forever.
It always hurts, he said after returning to the M-P pool for the first competition of the season. But pain really isnt an issue any more.
The teen has an upbeat and optimistic entering his final season on the M-P swim and dive team.
He jokes now that come meet time he doesnt swim anything over 200-yards and said not once in my life have I swam the 500 free.
Swan and two of his M-P classmates completed the 204-mile Seattle-to-Portland bike ride in mid-July and said it served as a form of rehab.
Someone told me to get into biking and I used the money I had saved for a car to go toward a bike instead, he said.
Along with swimming teammate Andrew Hodgins and another M-P classmate the three completed the STP in about 16 hours.
Hodgins said he joined his friends because his brother had done it before and inspired him to complete the journey.
I couldnt think of many riders that I knew but I had seen him (Hodgins) riding all over town, Swan said.
With the exception of visible scars that dot the teens back and legs, Swan does not stand out from his peers very much.
Pre-race and during practice he can be seen cracking jokes and listening to his iPod, but to listen to him speak of his 2006-07 goals he sounds like a man on a mission.
I want to come back and show everyone that Im not done yet. I have unsettled business and am not JV material.