Between sessions at Plantation Sectionals, 12-time Olympic medalist and world record holder Ryan Lochte took the time to drive 20 minutes and visit the swim and water polo teams at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and pay his respects to Nicholas Dworet, swim team captain and University of Indianapolis commit.
On February 14th, 2018, Dworet was one of 17 students and faculty killed in the Parkland, Florida, school shooting. To honor Dworet’s memory and goals, Lochte wore a Stoneman Douglas swim cap during his Friday evening races at Plantation Sectionals, winning the 200 freestyle in a 1:50.56 and the 100 butterfly in a 53.77.
Dworet, who had committed to the University of Indianapolis where he would have been a freshman for the 2018-2019 season, also had Olympic aspirations and intended to represent Sweden at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The 6th picture in Lochte’s post shows Dworet’s long course meters goal times for January and March of 2018 and for the 2019 season. While the times on Dworet’s goal sheet speak to his aspirations, the notes he wrote to himself as inspiration show his character. Per Lochte’s post:
-I want to become a Swedish Olympian and go to Tokyo 2020 and compete for my country.
-I will give all I have in my body and my mind to Achieve (sic) the goal I have set. I will train as hard as I can in and out of the water. Even on my hardest days I swear to give it my all, and I will let nothing stand in my way.
-Train harder.
Shortly after the shooting Dworet’s parents partnered with his club team, TS Aquatics, and created a foundation called “Swim for Nick” to commemorate their son.
In the nearly one month since the tragedy in Parkland, students at Stoneman Douglas and across the country have staged national protests and organized walkouts, calling for sensible gun laws and urging lawmakers to stop accepting money from the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Students from Parkland even took a bus to Tallahassee, Florida’s capital, urging lawmakers to ban AR-15 assault rifles, the same firearm used in the shooting, though Florida’s lawmakers voted against that proposal.
However, Friday, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed Senate Bill 7026 which raises the minimum legal age to purchase firearms from 18 to 21-years-old, bans the sale or possession of bump fire stocks like those used in the Las Vegas shooting that killed 58 people in October, and allotted tens of millions of dollars to mental health assistance in schools. Also bundled in this bill was a provision which allows qualifying teachers to carry firearms in schools after undergoing 144 hours of training.
In response to Florida’s SB 7026, the NRA has filed a lawsuit claiming that the new provisions violate the 2nd and 14th Amendments.
Lochte, who did not offer his opinion on gun control, did end the post by saying, “…I will dedicate my swims in the 2020 Olympics to Nicholas. One of his goals was to swim in the Olympics and now he will with me!!”
The chances of a teacher shooting a student who is not a shooter seem high. I feel sorry in advance for the teacher and student that are put in that situation.
You’re kidding me, right?
I’m sure you’re like Rambo and you’d karate chop their head off, so it’s hard to relate to avergae citizens that get nervous and make mistakes in combat situations.
I stand by my statement.
So you think every teacher that has a gun will just murder everybody? That’s insanely crazy. If they wanted to do that, they would bring a gun in anyway. Criminals don’t care about laws.
He didn’t say he thinks every teacher that has a gun will just murder everyone. How disingenuous can you get. It is clear you are not arguing in good faith.
I have to tell you guys,as an European, when I read that the most daring proposal you manage to come up with is “to ban AR-15 assault rifles” – and even that is considered by some an attack to basic freedoms – I am flabbergasted.
same here – i will never understand why a country needs so many guns in the first place ….but i guess its how they see the future to be bright . We will see how it ends up with climat change ….
Teachers with guns. It could make me laugh. But it’s not funny. Long live America.
Republicans, NRA and people who support these guys are definitely crazy.
Great action by Ryan Lochte. I’m a MP fan forever but I also appreciate Ryan a lot. He’s a classy guy.
Bobo I know you might know that much about American politics, but a single issue such as gun control is some way does not affiliate you with a party. I think this was a smart law and a step in the right direction. I can believe in gun regulation no matter my party. I am a republican and I own a gun.
People cannot call themselves responsible gun owners and not be willing to compromise for the safety of all.
What does Michael Phelps have to do with this though?
Good for Lochte in supporting the school, and not surprising given his history of generosity towards kids (remember the story of how some star swimmer snubbed him for an autograph when he was a kid?). As for his times, he always swims slow in heavy (read Troy, not Marsh) training, so if he’s actually training the Troy way, these are impressive times for him. I wish him well. Timing is everything. If the Rio fiasco had happened today, it wouldn’t even register in the news cycle — it would have just been on the sports pages for a day.
Glad nobody is telling him to ‘shut up and swim’ (ie #shutupanddribble) Sport and athletes can bring hope, awareness and healing in so many ways. Keep it up!
Agreed. No matter what we say, sports are political.
Whole heartedly agree. An incredible example of this is the gymnastics community and what they brought to action. Would that court case have made such an societal impact without having the big named Olympians attached to it?
Good deal Rick Scott. No one over 21 is committing mass murder with guns so I think Florida is set now. Now Florida has to follow through like the rest of the country, who treat murder as a felony and who have banned all crowds larger than 2 people from gathering anywhere.
Aw I’m sorry is widdle baby getting worried about his precious little murder binky?
this just makes me smile and cry all at the same time. it really is true that sport reveals character. I hope this foundation has a long and lasting impression on young athletes.
Lochte is a great swimmer and human.
lol