“If people aren’t laughing at your goals and dreams, then your dreams aren’t big enough…”
For Klair Bradley, a senior at Muskogee High School, these words remain a driving force to reach for the wall of success while swimming as well as in her personal life.
“I hear my mom and dad’s words of advice in every decision I make,” a two-time state qualifier for the Roughers swim program. “Sometimes in life people are going to doubt you, question you about your desires. You have to keep your focus and stay confident in yourself in order to achieve your dreams.”
Bradley’s dreams for swimming success began with her initial experiences in the pool learning how to swim through lessons taught by her now high school coach, Beth Wells.
“’She has always pushed me to do more because she believes in my abilities,” Bradley said in appreciation. “It’s because of how she helped me through an arm injury when I was eight that I learned how to compete in the breast stroke which is my favorite event.”
According to Bradley who maintains a weighted 4.55 GPA, success in swimming requires both physical and mental training.
“I think it’s more than 50-percent mental achievement that allows you to be successful in the water. Putting your face in the water staring at a black line for two hours a day requires mental focus.”
Bradley qualified for the OSSAA championships in the 100m breast stroke as a freshman. She won a third place medal as sophomore plus a fourth place finish in the 500 freestyle. Unfortunately, health and training issues kept Bradley out ouf competition in 2021. Combined with her achievements swimming in national competition with her club team, Swim Tulsa, Bradley has opportunities to swim on the college level that will also provide a path to reaching her career dreams.
“I’ve narrowed my choices to a couple of schools, University of Illinois-Chicago and Minnesota State-Mankato,” said Bradley. “Ultimately I want to become a registered dietician and work with athletes on the importance of nutrition and recovery.
With a smile on her face, Klair admits she enjoys spending time in the kitchen perfecting her favorite recipe.
“I like cooking and baking especially when I get to cook my own style of jambalaya.”
As her final high school season begins, Klair Bradley remains focused; training to not just qualify for the OSSAA championships but finish at the wall in medal winning time.
“You can say that I’m analytical and confident; and that’s true but I’m also determined,” said Bradley. “And for me it’s about perseverance. You have to want something bad enough and then be committed to go and get it.”
