Lucky To Be Alive and Swimming
鈥淚 consider it an art form. When you鈥檙e swimming very well it鈥檚 very much like a dance, feeling your body move through the water. There鈥檚 nothing quite like it.鈥�
If anyone at 国产探花 can describe the fluid motion of swimming, it鈥檚 Joel Feldmann.
A swimmer almost her entire life, the long-time member of Keene State鈥檚 Physical Education Department and current clinical faculty instructor knows first-hand the positive benefits that can be derived from daily dips in the water 鈥� whether that means taking a leisurely swim around Silver Lake in Harrisville or churning out laps during a Masters Swimming practice at Spaulding Gym pool.
In addition to being kind to knees, shoulders, ankles, and hips by putting less stress on the body than other forms of exercise, swimming can improve one鈥檚 mental health. 鈥淲ater is therapeutic. I get out of the water and I feel good,鈥� says Feldmann. 鈥淲hen I don鈥檛 swim I鈥檓 not as effective in all the other things I do.鈥�
Swimming also helped Feldmann face the biggest battle of her life. Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the fall of 2009, she continued swimming while enduring several surgeries and multiple chemo treatments. 鈥淏oth of my physicians felt that exercise would increase my chance of surviving and encouraged me to keep exercising,鈥� says Feldmann. 鈥淚 feel lucky to be alive. Cancer has changed my approach to swimming. When I race now, there is no pressure. My internal voice says, 鈥楲et鈥檚 see what I can do today.鈥欌��
Feldmann grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, and later moved to Annapolis, where the Severn River served as her water playground. Depending on the season, she could be found swimming, crabbing, boating, water skiing, and oystering. 鈥淭hat really clinched my love of the water,鈥� she says. An All-American swimmer at both West Chester University and the University of Colorado, where she earned her BS in physical education, Feldmann made many water stops during her career. Moving from the blocks to the deck, she held several coaching and teaching positions before coming to Keene State in 1991. Although she enjoyed her many coaching stints, Feldmann, who also earned an MEd from Wayne State in Detroit, got a lot of personal satisfaction from teaching children how to swim.
After an extended respite from the water, Feldmann, at almost 40 years old, was coaxed back into competitive swimming by a friend. Soon both were training for the nationals of US Masters Swimming 鈥� an organization for competitive swimmers over 18. 鈥淪he said, 鈥業 think we can do it,鈥� and we went after it,鈥� Feldmann says.
Winning the 50 free in her age group at the national meet in 1995, Feldmann began to enjoy, again, the competitive and fitness training aspects of swimming. Competing for the New England Masters Swimming club, she would not only go on to set world and national records, but post an incredible 170 top-10 swims over 21 years.
However, as far as Feldmann is concerned, swimming with a Masters group isn鈥檛 just about records and honors 鈥� it鈥檚 also a way to connect with others. 鈥淢y swimming friends have been sustaining and wonderful,鈥� she says.
A self-described 鈥減ool rat,鈥� she has no intentions of stopping. 鈥淚 see myself involved with Masters Swimming as long as I can do it,鈥� says Feldmann. 鈥淲hen you go to nationals and you see someone who鈥檚 in their 90s swimming, it鈥檚 really inspiring. You say, 鈥極K, I can do this. I can keep going.鈥欌��