Miranda Long was just 12 years old when her dad signed her up for the Cornhusker State Games swim meet more than three decades ago. Like many kids trying something new, she went along with it nervous, unsure, but willing.
“I had just turned 12, and I got signed up for the swim meet,” she recalled. “I didn’t know what it would be like, but I swam and then someone told me I got to go up and get a medal. I was like, what? I was so excited. I’d never won anything that nice before.”
That shiny medal sparked something lasting in Miranda. It wasn’t just a prize; it was a moment of joy, a memory, and the beginning of a lifelong connection to the Cornhusker State Games.
Miranda continued swimming over the years, but the laid-back, welcoming environment of that first Games experience stuck with her.
“It wasn’t as stressful as other meets,” she said. “It was fun. I could relax more, and I just had such a good time.”
Years later, as an adult and a mother, Miranda found herself wanting to dive back into swimming. The first place she thought of? The Cornhusker State Games.
“I was about 36 and I wanted to swim again,” she said. “So, I signed up for the State Games and it was everything I remembered it to be.”
From that point on, she was all in. She rallied fellow swimmers from Fremont to compete, and when the opportunity came to bring the meet to their local pool, Miranda helped make it happen. Her passion eventually led her to become the CSG sport director for swimming, where she now helps create the same fun, inclusive experience she enjoyed as a kid.
One of her favorite parts of the role is awarding medals to young swimmers and seeing the joy that fills the pool deck.
“People have so much fun. Everybody’s always smiling at these meets,” she said.
Miranda also finds joy in the Masters competition, where adult swimmers, many of them longtime friends come together to race, cheer each other on and simply enjoy the moment.
“It’s like a group of 80 adults just being silly and having a blast,” she said. “We have such a good time.”
Over the decades, she has seen the Games evolve with growing community support, better awareness, and of course, fancier medals. But some things, she says, have stayed beautifully the same.
“It’s always been inclusive,” she said. “Every athlete is important, not just the best ones. That’s why kids come and try their first swim meet here. They feel safe. They feel welcome. And sometimes, just like me, they fall in love with it.”
Her advice to first-timers, whether kids or adults is simple, “Don’t be afraid to sign up.”
“Everybody working at that event is there to help you and make sure that not only do you have a good time, but that you fully understand everything that’s going on.”
For Miranda, it all started with a hesitant yes and a prized medal. Today, it’s a tradition of connection, joy and giving back, all thanks to the Cornhusker State Games.
