I was scrolling through my phone during a late-night snack break, the blue light harsh against the dark kitchen, when the video popped up. There he was, Wang Shun, pulling himself out of the pool after winning the men's 200m individual medley at the National Games. The clock read 1:56.20. The commentator's voice was excited, but my brain got stuck on one detail flashing on the screen: age 31.

‘An old-timer still has it!’ the caption said. Honestly, that word ‘old-timer’ pinched something in my chest. It felt strangely personal. Not because I'm a swimmer—far from it, my idea of exercise is rushing for the subway. But because 31… that number has been sitting in the back of my mind lately, like a quiet, judgmental roommate.

Wang Shun talked about the pressure in his post-race interview. ‘This one feels really different for me,’ he said, his voice a mix of exhaustion and relief. ‘The pressure just built up for the 200m IM. Part of it is my deep connection to this event, and part of it was really wanting to give my all to grab this gold.’ I could almost feel the weight of that water, the burn in his muscles. It wasn't just physical; it was the weight of time, of expectations, of proving something—maybe to others, but mostly to himself.

It made me think of my cousin, Alex. We video-called last week. He just turned 30 and spent half an hour talking about his ‘career roadmap’ and whether he was ‘on track.’ His words were all spreadsheets and milestones, but his eyes looked tired, like he was reading from a script someone else wrote. I wanted to tell him about Wang Shun, about how ‘track’ can be a pool, and a ‘milestone’ can be a personal best time you fight for when everyone thinks the peak has passed.

There's this unspoken rule, you know? A timeline we're all supposed to follow. Graduate by 22, hit your stride by 30, settle down by 35. Wang Shun, at 31, in a sport that often glorifies teenage phenoms, just redrew that timeline with a gold medal. It's a powerful, quiet rebellion. It’s not about denying age; it's about redefining what each year can mean.

I'm not saying we should all go win gold medals. But maybe we can steal a bit of that spirit. Maybe the ‘pressure’ Wang Shun felt isn't so different from the knot in our stomach before a big presentation, or the doubt that whispers ‘is it too late to start?’ when we look at a new hobby. His win feels like permission—permission to be a beginner at 40, to change careers at 50, to simply be ‘still in the game’ on our own terms.

After watching that clip, I texted Alex. No career advice, just the video link with a note: ‘Dude, this guy’s 31 and just schooled everyone. Our timeline is ours to write.’ He hasn't replied yet, but that's okay. The message was as much for me as for him.

So, what’s your version of the 200m IM? What’s that thing you feel a ‘deep connection’ to, that you still want to ‘give your all’ for, regardless of the number on your ID? Let’s chat in the comments. Sometimes, seeing someone else smash their finish line is all the push we need to dive back into our own lane.

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