Jayden Repak, a senior swimmer at Steinbrenner High, did something remarkable.
While he might have brought home two medals from the Class 4A state championship at Florida Aquatics Swimming & Training complex in Ocala on Nov. 10, he did so after breaking his finger and tearing some ligaments in an earlier race.
“It takes a lot of mental and physical toughness to be able to compete at that level, let alone win a championship with a newly broken finger,” his coach, Kristyn Fada, said.
Firstly, Repak was able to secure second place in the 50 freestyle, grabbing himself a silver medal thanks to a 20.81 finish. However, he would then compete in the 100 breaststroke with that new injury.
But Repak swam through it and the pain, finishing that race with a 55.66 and a gold medal to secure himself as a state champion.
