Helena Gan became a swimmer because her older brother and many of her friends were swimmers.
Once in the pool, she became a butterfly swimmer because, well, nobody else wanted to.
"It's a difficult swim, but when it's over, it's a good feeling," said Gan, a junior who is in her third season swimming for West Forsyth.
Coach Andrew Sarang said that Gan and the butterfly are a great pairing.
"She's technically a very good butterfly swimmer," he said. "She dropped a bunch of time in the fly in our last meet. This month, we've done a lot of fly and breaststroke technique work. And she really thinks about it. Her technical swimming is the best."
Gan, who also writes for West Forsyth's student newspaper, The Zephyr, didn't swim competitively before her family moved from Macon, Ga., to Clemmons when she was in the fourth grade.
"My brother, Garrick, started swimming when we were living in Georgia, but I tried all sports," she said.
Unlike most swimmers, who first get between the lane ropes in a summer-league program, Gan jumped right in to the deep end, signing up for the Winston-Salem YMCA's swim team.
"I really liked it, and I stuck with it, then I started swimming at Waterford in the summer league," she said.
Gan is hoping the Titans can win the Central Piedmont 4-A championship this year. If not, she hopes it happens her senior year.
"I want to drop time in the butterfly, and I want to be more prepared for next year, to be in shape before the season," she said.
THREE QUESTIONS FOR GAN
Q: Who is the athlete you admire most?
A: Ryan Lochte (swimmer)
Q: What's on your bucket list?
A: Swim with manatees
Q: What is your favorite song?
A: "At the Beach" by the Avett Brothers
Dan Kibler
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