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The Jason Brown Orca Spirit Award is given to swimmers who have forged great achievements in the face of significant challenges. The award was named after Orca Swimmer Jason Brown who found a way to overcome a staggering physical injury and help his team to a SAAA Championship victory!
Jason’s Story
(as told by Jason Brown)
All summer our team had been working extra hard because we knew that for the past two years our team had won the SAAA Championships and we wanted to remain Tucson’s champion team. Two weeks prior to championships, I had spent a week at a church camp. While playing around with one of my friends there, I had an accident where I broke my jaw on both sides. In addition, almost all my teeth were damaged in one way or another. My jaw had to be wired shut for almost 2 months to help the breaks heal. SAAA Championships were to take place 2 weeks from the time I broke my jaw. This created two options for me. The first option was ending my season early. At this time I was swimming in the 15-18 age group. In the group there was a total of 4 guys. I knew that if I didn’t swim, my team mates would not be able to swim the relays and the subsequent point loss could be the difference between 1st and 2nd place for the entire team. The way I saw it, I really had only one option; I had to swim.
From the very first few years on the team to the last years on the team, breath control played a major role in all my training. At age 7, 25-yard “no breathers” were the only way and the “cool way.” I had never trained or attempted, however, any more than a 25-yard “no breather.” One of the consequences of having a jaw wired shut was the inability to breath deep and quick.
At the SAAA championships, my events were 50 back, 50 fly, 50 free and both the 4x50 free relay and the medley replay. My fear about breathing during these events was putting me into a panic mode because I couldn’t get air quickly enough causing me to choke and possibly throw up. With a locked jaw that could be dangerous. Realizing this, I decided I had to complete all but the backstroke as “50-yard no breathers.” In addition, I had to have a person standing at both ends of the pool with wire cutters on “choke patrol.” I was scared but knew it was the right thing for me to do. I strongly believe that most on my team would have done the same.
After each event, I had to have help getting out of the pool, because I was very weak. There were times in the middle of a race that my vision would squeeze down to tunnel vision because of lack of oxygen but after each event, I knew it was what needed to be done.
I had so much fun swimming with the Orcas team. The tradition of team work and individual accountability is taught and revered within the Orca tradition. I had many great coaches who sacrificed their precious time to help me become a better swimmer and a better person (and they coached for very little $). Many of the parents put in countless hours, and I am sure still do so today, in their efforts to support the Orca Swimming Program. I love that pool, I love those people. I hope to be able to start the “Orca Swimming Tradition” for my kids and their friends someday wherever in the world we may be.
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