Spending countless hours over the summer training and racing against other clubs, Galileo senior Kenny Tang, perfected his freestyle and butterfly stroke to become the fastest swimmer in the city for both the 100-meter freestyle and the 100-meter butterfly.
Swimming has always been a defining part of his life since he started at the age of 5. Inspiration struck early. It was Kenny’s father who encouraged exploring different activities. Sticking with swimming came naturally to Kenny after trying tennis and not enjoying it as much.
What started for Kenny as simple exercise quickly became a passion, fueled by his competitive nature and love for the sport. “I’ve always enjoyed competing. I have an extremely competitive nature,” Kenny explains.
The journey hasn’t been without challenges. Making it to the Far Western Swimming Championships, a major milestone for any swimmer, required daily practice and commitment. “There were many fast people on the team, and my competitiveness drove me to chase them down,” Kenny recalls.
One particularly defining moment came when another swimmer, just a year younger, posted a faster time and stole Kenny’s prelim spot. “That pushed me to train even harder than before.” By putting in the effort, Kenny qualified for Far Westerns when he placed first in the meet for the 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle, with the 50 freestyle as a bonus event.
Dedication runs deep in Kenny’s training regimen. “I swam every day of the week, and I was so committed that I even practiced with another team during Thanksgiving break because my coach went to China,” he says. Now, the focus is on reaching the next level: sectionals. “I’m trying to qualify for the 50 free and am close to making it in the 100 breaststroke.”
Kenny is open about future goals “Of course, I want to swim professionally, but I don’t have that DAWG in me,” he admits. “God punished me by giving me the passion but not the talent or genetics.” Still, swimming in college, whether as a club member or a walk-on would make him happy.
Kenny Tang’s journey is a testament to the power of determination and love for the sport. Whether chasing down faster teammates or tackling new events, Kenny embodies the spirit of hard work, proving that passion can take you far.
