What was just an interest has blossomed into championship
success for Mika Soya-Kelly
GILROY — Gilroy resident Mika Soya-Kelly loves the water, so much so that she is often referred to as “little fish.”
That nickname brings about a little chuckle from Soya-Kelly, but she doesn’t mind the playful moniker, because “like a fish” is how she describes the sensation she experiences submerged head down in a swimming pool, kicking her legs and moving her arms to create art and rhythm in the water.
Five years ago, after watching a friend’s daughter, Soya-Kelly decided to take up synchronized swimming. She was 50 years old.
“It was very interesting and I was hooked,” she said. “It was amazing. I feel like I am not human. I was afraid of the deep (water), but now I can go scuba diving.”
Over the course of those five years since her introduction to the sport, Soya-Kelly has evolved into quite a swimmer and recently defended her title at the 2009 U.S. Master Synchronized Swimming Championships in Coral Springs, Fla.
Competing in the 50-59 year old division, Soya-Kelly, now 55, finished above 14 other hopefuls to reach the top of the podium for the second straight year.
“Two years ago I was shocked,” she said. “This year it was tense. Everybody was watching me. I was not expecting to get it a second time. It was exciting. I was shocked again.”
Keeping her passion satiated requires a strict training regimen during the eight months out of the year that Soya-Kelly said she designates for the sport.
Her job as a flight attendant doesn’t get in the way either. Many times she said she trains in the pools of wherever she is staying around the world.
Learning to hold her breath for extended periods of time was the most daunting obstacle for Soya-Kelly to overcome, but after learning a few tricks and taking advantage of every opportunity to practice, Soya-Kelly is able to go breathless for “two to three minutes” at a time.
“Sometimes I hold my breath while I’m driving,” she said.
Soya-Kelly is also a member of the trio team Angelfish. She said this is the first year the team has been together. However, the Angelfish have already had success, earning the bronze medal at this year’s U.S. Masters, placing third out of eight teams in its division.
