A postscript on this piece: unsurprisingly, the piece has especially resonated with parents of NCAA athletes, and I have since heard from parents in a wide range of sports (lacrosse, soccer, gymnastics) saying that the piece reflected their own experiences. It also resonated with athletes themselves, and anyone who liked the piece should check out the discussion that we had about it with a former colleague of mine, Robert Bogart, who also happens to have been an NCAA champion swimmer.[0]

[0] https://oxide-and-friends.transistor.fm/episodes/diving-in-w...