Seward spawns newest swim sensation

Seward, Alaska on a sunny day is stunning. Back dropped by spectacular mountains and tucked in along Resurrection Bay it is a dream destination. Now it appears to have spawned a dream girl — Lydia Jacoby. Alaska's first swimmer to win Olympic Gold, powering her way to the podium in the 100-meter breaststroke.

She began swim lessons at age six. Mostly her parents wanted her to know her way around the water, growing up in a maritime community. With both being boat captains Lydia was going to be spending many hours on the bay.

It's quite a dazzling strip of sea, Resurrection — a fjord on the Kenai Peninsula. Once sitting on rocks above the water's edge I was startled by a harbor seal suddenly surfacing right in front of me, and in one swift motion tossing a salmon in the air and with a flash of silver scales it slid down its throat. The seal dove and I was left asking myself, “Did I really see that?”

Another time when Seward's tiny theater above the bay was still open I watched “White Fang.” Stepping outside in the evening's summer daylight it was like the movie was still playing. The same majestic scenery had breached the screen and spread out before me.

This town of almost 3,000 — if you watch the video — went berserk to see their girl win gold in Tokyo. And why not — no state-of-the-art pool or elite swim team. No hype. Just a talented and determined down home girl working on her stroke. Finding a way, even with the local pool shut down during COVID, to get to Anchorage and practice there.

Everybody loves a come-from-behind story. Maybe because it shows a big heart. The passion to make the dream come true. That extra push from inside one's self to surge to the finish first.

The ones watching feel somehow big-hearted, too. Even though we had nothing to do with making it happen, the joy of it splashes us. It becomes a group accomplishment.

Just the kind of moment to raise a hallelujah — before we forget what those are.