Senior Isaac Shang has seen it all: three school swimming records, a love for food, and the beginning of his small business. Now, Isaac can add “a committed athlete” to his list.
Isaac began swimming at age six after watching his older brother for as long as he could remember, inspiring him to take up the sport. While he may have started because of his brother, Isaac has worked to make a name for himself.
“Isaac has been a cornerstone of the team’s success,” Varsity Boys Swim Coach Seth Tasman said. “Beyond his impressive performances in the pool, Isaac’s leadership and unwavering dedication have significantly impacted team morale.”
Despite all the pressure of competing at such a high level, Isaac never takes competition too seriously, letting his love of the sport drive him.
“I always did it out of joy,” Isaac said. “I just do it because I really love swimming and the team.”
This love drives Isaac to practice hard every day, pushing himself and his teammates, — a quality that stood out from his freshman year. Past motivation for hard work, Issac brings a light-heartedness to the pool.
“He has a natural ability to inspire and uplift those around him,” Tasman said.
“He’s very playful and always cracking jokes,” senior Joyce Ren said. “That makes the environment a very comfortable place to be in.”
In addition to swimming for New York University (NYU), Isaac plans to study business or a similar field where he can exercise his creativity. During his sophomore year of highschool, Issac founded his clothing business, Blue Monkey, where he designs and sells hoodies, T-shirts, and tote bags.
Isaac’s journey to NYU involved a lot of thought — picking between schools, training trips, and campus visits — and a time when he dreaded waking up and going to swim practice each day.
“I had to take a step back, realize what I want from swimming, and pick it back up when I found the right time to start taking it seriously,” Issac said.
Regardless of those challenges, Isaac’s ability to bounce back and gain strength from his experiences helped him find his place at NYU. For him, New York’s food and city environment and the opportunity to build new friendships with teammates are the most valuable things.
Isaac credits his swimming success with his love for the sport. He would not be where he is today without that love and dedication.
“I never really saw results from swimming until I realized I wanted to have a passion for it,” Issac said. “Once I started building on just enjoying the sport, that’s when I really saw the improvement.”
