Guest Post: Author Laura Cottam Sajbel on BUOYANT

Austin writer Laura Cottam Sajbel collaborated with Wella Hartig—mother of seven-time Olympic medalist Aaron Peirsol and his world-ranked sister Hayley— to share Hartig’s story of raising these two remarkable athletes. The result is their co-authored book Buoyant: How Water and Willpower Helped Wella to Channel Aaron and Hayley Peirsol. The book is currently available as an eBook.

Here Laura shares some reflections on the process of writing the book. 

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Writing about a famous sports family comes with an intimidation factor.  When Wella Hartig and I agreed to collaborate on this book, it meant I would need to hobnob with a pretty (ahem) fast crowd.  Getting a call to talk with legendary swim coach Eddie Reese on a day I had laryngitis was nerve-wracking enough.  However, asking personal questions of a three-time Olympic athlete, an impressive guy who dominated his field for at least a decade . . . well, that made me sweat.

Wella’s son Aaron Peirsol had responded to email promptly and eloquently.  But sitting on the porch at FoodHeads Café on 34th Street, awaiting my first in-person interview with Aaron, made me feel like a queasy, star-struck journalism student.  I kept trying to remember my line of questioning, while second-guessing which menu item I could eat with professional poise.

Then Aaron bounded up the steps and warmly greeted me.  This noticeably tall, handsome young man—who has won five Olympic gold medals—not only put away a big, messy plate of breakfast tacos, he put me at ease.  He asked about my family and thanked me for my work with his mother.  He was honest and direct and thoughtful in his comments.
When we bumped into each other at Deep Eddy not long after that, we chatted like old friends before Aaron slid into the lane next to me.  Suddenly, with barely a wriggle, he was halfway across the pool.  Swimming next to a world record holder felt like trying to race a dolphin.

His sister Hayley is also a ferocious athletic competitor.  Her fast-paced, witty Tweets and trend-setting personal style leave middle-aged me in the dust.  Yet, she was gracious, too.  The day of our interview, she texted to warn me she was running two minutes behind.  On a weekend when she had just taken her first new graduate classes, with an afternoon team banquet looming for the young swimmers she coaches, she talked for two leisurely hours, answering all my questions and offering insight into what makes her family tick.

Wella points out that we parents are not just raising swimmers, we are raising human beings.  And that is really why I tackled this project:  How did she manage to raise such remarkable athletes who are also delightful people?

As the mom of three energetic kids myself, I have learned a lot from Wella.  Her intuition told her that exercise helped her think more clearly and more positively; her good instincts put her kids in sports, as well.  She faced some challenging emotional and financial setbacks, making even more admirable her determination to instill morals and values and self-worth in her children.

Mostly, she was their biggest fan, whether they were surfing victories or surviving setbacks.  Parenting trends come and go, but Wella’s advice about loving children for who they are and not for what they do is a lesson we can all take to heart.

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For more information about Laura Cottam Sajbel and her work, visit her website.