The Rising Tide with Kensey McMahon
4/10/2023 5:07:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
There are fewer things in life that I enjoy more than being in the water. Swimming has always been an important part of my life.
From swimming for fun in my family's backyard pool in my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, to competing on some of the most spectacular stages that this sport has to offer, the ride has been nothing short of incredible.
I am so grateful for the milestones, the setbacks, and most of all, the opportunity to represent Alabama as a student-athlete.
A commitment
I can still vividly remember the day I committed to swim for the Crimson Tide. There was something about the university that drew me in from the very beginning.
Whether it was the plentiful resources that are available to student-athletes, the beauty of the campus, or the direction that the swim program was heading in, I had found a home away from home in Tuscaloosa.
The tide was rising with our large and talented class and I was excited to be a part of it.
In the years that I have spent here, I have tried to show up every day and honor that commitment - a promise to work as hard as I possibly could to be an example for those who follow and set a new standard of expectations and performance for this program.
After a successful four-year career, I felt like I had reached most of those goals. I had earned numerous First-Team All-American Honors, captured SEC Championships, set school records, and placed in the top ten at NCAA meets.
By all accounts, I completed a great collegiate run and - along with my teammate and friend, Olympian Rhyan White - helped this program reach a new level. Our women’s team finished 4th in the Team Standings at NCAA’s in 2022.
This was historic for the program and individually my best placing at the National Championships.
My love for this program, my teammates, and my coaches made me feel like I had more to give.
So, Rhyan, myself, and other members of our senior class sat down together and came to a collective agreement.
We are not finished yet.
The perfect ending
As fate would have it, returning for my fifth and final season has proven to be one of the most impactful choices of my young career.
After a summer of competitive swimming, including the opportunity to represent Team USA in the 25-kilometer open-water event and recording a 10th-place finish in the 2022 FINA World Championships, I was more determined than ever to have a standout final season for the Crimson Tide.
Throughout this last year, our team continued to get better and better. As is the case in every collegiate season, however, our sights were always set on the NCAAs.
Competing against the best in the country, putting your work and dedication on full display on one of the biggest stages - it's what every athlete dreams of, you know?
When the day finally arrived, I focused on enjoying it and being present in the moment.
The final moments of my collegiate career, that is.
I continued with my usual pre-race routines and kept a sense of normalcy throughout. I uttered the same words that I tell myself before the start of every race.
The words are simple and positive, yet incredibly powerful.
"I am strong, I am fast, I've got this."
Entering the finals of the 500-meter freestyle, I just wanted to execute my race plan and not focus on the final results. No matter the outcome, I was going to swim a race that I could be proud of.
As I touched the wall and glanced up at the scoreboard, a sense of disbelief came over me.
The moment was incredibly surreal.
NCAA champion.
Instantly, I felt all of the love and support from my family, teammates, and coaches, who were all present to help me celebrate.
While the moment was overwhelming, there was more work to be done. I had another event left to compete in.
After securing that victory in the 500m, I was more confident than ever heading into the mile. Of the two events that I most often compete in, the mile has always been, hands down, my stronger of the two.
With my confidence at an all-time high, I completed the 1,650 yard freestyle race in 15:43.84 - another first-place finish.
At that very moment, after notching two national titles, I felt as though life had come full circle.
I have dedicated my entire life to this amazing sport, and to experience a moment where all of the hard work, sacrifices, and incredible level of patience finally pays off is a feeling that I will never forget.
I could not have scripted a more perfect ending to my collegiate career.
Pursuing a dream
Without a doubt, I owe all of my success to my family, teammates, coaches, and of course, the University of Alabama. The support that this school provides for its student-athletes is unmatched, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to represent the Script A for five seasons.
While the future remains largely unknown, I know one thing is certain.
Swimming will remain front and center in my life as I continue to pursue my dreams of competing at the professional level.
Currently, I am training for the 2023 Open-Water National Event that will take place later this month and the World Championship Trials in June.
Regardless of where this journey of life and the sport of swimming lead me, I will always continue to rely on my faith in God, my incredible support system at Alabama and at home, and the life lessons that I have learned along the way to continue propelling me forward.
The tide is still rising, and I will always do whatever I can to rise right along with it.
