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Name: Sharon Barrell
DOB: May 29, 1961
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
What is your favorite stroke? Backstroke
What do you love about the sport of swimming?
The thing I love most about swimming is that it is just me and the water–no balls, bats, rackets, goals or nets.
What do you enjoy about swimming with DAMA?
The DAMA swimmers are all so nice and fun to swim with. They made me feel welcome from my first practice 4 years ago. I love that there is a wide range of swimming abilities and ages represented across the team. We all support each other!
How long have you been swimming with DAMA?
I joined DAMA in Feb 2009, so almost 4 years. I swim in the morning!
Swim Career Highlights/Experience or Swimming Background:
My only “career highlight” is back in the mid-1990s, I briefly held the state records in my age group in the 50 m free and 50 m backstroke. (Because there are few short course meters meets, this was not a hard achievement!).
How often do you swim?
I swim 3 or 4 times a week and compete in about 2 meets per year.
What are your favorite events to swim?
I typically enter 50 free and back and 100 free and back, although, sadly, the 100s seem to get harder each time I compete.
How does swimming affect your lifestyle?
Swimming really helps me feel calm and even keeled; plus the older I get, the more important it is to stay in shape so that helps me stay motivated to go to practice regularly.
What do you in your life outside of the pool? (work/school/etc.)
I am an editor at RTI International and have 2 boys, ages 13 and 10; my husband is an environmental scientist at EPA. Both my boys play sports (although not swimming) so I am constantly on the go.
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Fun Facts
High School: St. Mary’s Dominican High School
College(s): Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers!)
Ultimate Way to Relax: reading on my porch
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