ATHLETES OPEN WATERS AHEAD
Raegan Gavino BY JOAQUIN A. SANTOS AROUND TWO decades ago, a splash echoed throughout the Gavino household—a signal that a member of the family had reached the ripe old age of two. It was Raegan’s turn to swim, and instead of dipping her toes, she flew in. “We were always water babies,” she says. “Our parents would throw us in and have us float by ourselves.” While that seems like a harsh introduction to the water, her story is proof that she held her breath long enough to find a home in it. At the end of her time in Ateneo, Raegan Gavino (5 AB IS) is graduating cum laude and is the Program Awardee for Interdisciplinary Studies. She also leaves behind an illustrious career for the Blue and White—one that is defined by her leadership just as much as the hardware she brought home. In her own lane Raegan is the eldest of four siblings, all of whom had their turn making a splash. But the water that ties them together has also allowed each of them to find their own lanes on opposite sides of the world. Her younger sister swims competitively for the University of New Mexico, her younger brother swam until college, and her youngest brother competes in high school in the United States. Raegan lives apart from her entire family for most of the year, but it is a challenge they bear together. Christmases and summers are dedicated to quality time, but when the season starts, she turns their distance into fuel. “As much as I miss them, at the same time, I’m happy that it’s just me,” she jokes. Recognizing that each of them has a unique experience has allowed her to swim loose—free from unnecessary comparison and sibling rivalry—and the competition has had to bear the brunt of that.
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Over a five-year career, Raegan has four championships to her name, the last of which secured a three-peat for the Ateneo Women’s Swimming Team. Graduating as Team Captain and a decorated butterfly and medley specialist, she leaves behind a legacy of excellence few athletes can match. Second family While Raegan’s family does their best to support her, the success she has enjoyed in the pool is also the product of her deep bond with the FAST Ateneo Swim Team. In both the men’s and women’s teams she has found a second family, a term which she says has a special meaning. “This year was different because it’s my last, but it’s special because it’s my last with the people I grew up with,” shares Raegan. After becoming her closest confidants and favorite companions, her teammates have given her invaluable inspiration and a chance to set a culture that puts everyone in the best position to succeed. Raegan understands the importance of being counted on and being able to count on others, especially when the demands of balancing school and swimming weigh heavy. “It helps to have teammates who inspire you. Even if most of them are lowerclassmen, I’ve never not looked to them for inspiration,” she says. Because she holds them in such high regard, she is committed to challenging her teammates to demand more of themselves. For Raegan, excellence was not just reserved for competition but a consistent pursuit. “It’s useless for you to work so hard in one thing, but you’re not going to carry over that discipline anywhere else,” she explains. As a result of this mindset, the women’s swimming team handles
business both in the pool and in the classroom, consistently posting one of the highest grade averages among varsity teams. “Given that I’m trying to be the best I can be, I can only hope that my team will try to become the best versions of themselves,” she says. That’s the legacy Raegan leaves behind: Dedication to improving in and out of the pool in a way that lines up with who you are. Staying faithful to these principles and instilling them in those around her has contributed to an immensely fulfilling experience over the years. “To be a part of the success of my team—this is the perfect way to end it. I wouldn’t have asked for anything else,” she says. As her swimming career winds down to a close, Raegan faces a world full of uncertainty and possibility. Teaching children and coaching swimming, both of which are passions she has carried from a young age, are paths she would like to explore. Regardless of where she chooses to go, she finds herself, as she did around two decades ago, in midair once again.
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But swimming is always going to be a part of her identity, so trust that she will learn how to do much more than float.
