To say Leane Darling Horton is enjoying life would be an understatement.
Her days competing as a Mustang may be over, but the former U.S. Champion, NCAA All-American and Conference Champion did post a world top-three finish for Team Hawaii at the ISA World Paddleboard Championships.
Instead of crossing a 25-yard pool, she is crossing the Pacific Ocean on a 32-foot sailboat named Valkyrie from Mexico to French Polynesia with her husband, Jesse.
However, when you ask her about what led her to these opportunities, she credits her time at SMU as having a major impact on her experiences today.
"SMU has given me so much opportunity in life," Darling Horton said of her experience on the Hilltop. "Life outside the pool is similar to life as a student-athlete in the pool; it's a series of challenges and goals.
"Swimming at SMU taught me to never give up on a goal. To reach a point of success, you must keep moving forward, with discipline and a happy heart, despite any feelings of doubt that you might have in the process. If you trust yourself and your community, then the work is pleasant and success is inevitable."
Leane grew up in Boca Raton, Florida, and when it was time to visit colleges, she chose SMU in part because of the Cox School of Business, the swim team's top ranking, the warmer climate and its smaller class sizes. However, it was something that happened at the NCAA Championships during her senior year of high school that really set the tone for Leane's collegiate years and beyond.
The Mustangs finished fourth at the National Championships that year, thanks to their performance in the final event, the 400 free relay.
"I noticed the women's team bond and the passion of the coaches. I realized how powerful that the union between strong women can be. This small team accomplished so much in such a large arena. They finished fourth in the nation with a much smaller team than most of the larger public schools in the nation."
Through her years at SMU, there were certain classes that stuck out more than most. Particularly, an honors finance class that gave her the resources and tools needed to solve problems, challenging her to think for herself. Classes that have given her the skills to contribute, to not only the work force, but also her community involvement.
Memories from the pool also follow her today. Time spent at the Perkins Natatorium watching the SMU Classic and the Dallas Morning News Invite.
"These meets took place on SMU soil. It was an old pool, a notoriously compact arena and 'slow' because it lacked in modern technology that most pools have with gutters and depth. The SMU men's and women's team would invite the top five teams in the nation to come compete in a more basic, head to head style swim meet. I will never forget the echoes of the cheers and the records that were broken, despite the odds. I can still feel the excitement of every competitor there."
Darling graduated from SMU with a degree in real estate finance and a minor in Spanish, and has been working as a local realtor on Oahu for over 5 years. Although she didn't attend graduation, keeping with what would become the theme of her life she was traveling to South Africa where she studied abroad, she has no shortage of memories during her time at SMU.
With the passion for travel came the passion for giving back, two things that were somewhat limited during her time at SMU.
"My dedication to sport and academics prohibited me from much travel before graduation. I remember them as some of the best years of my life and still carry the disciplines and talents I learned during that time. However, when I graduated I chose to explore the world rather than take a typical 9-5 office job route."
It was then she chose to combine what she gained from her time at SMU with those passions, and travel to places such as Spain, Honduras and Costa Rica. Swimming allowed her to take up surfing easily, and when she arrived in Costa Rica, she joined a tourist group that taught local girls to surf.
"When I saw the joy on their faces as they were catching waves, I knew that I wanted to share this with as many girls as possible. Whenever I was given the opportunity to share encouragement and skills with younger women, I would do so."
Two years out from graduation, Darling found herself in Hawaii pursing a Masters in Spanish Literature. Surfing was an obsession.
Cue the Sea Sisters.
Leane and Anna Santoro would coordinate time after work to share waves, laughs and memories. Then came Leah Dawson, Becky Mendoza, Jianca Lazarus and Liz Clark. Over the course of a few years, the six of them created a bond around their passion for the sport. Then, in 2016, the Changing Tides Foundation was created to work towards their passion for protecting and perpetuating their love for nature and the ocean and for one another. Specifically, the organization works on projects addressing environmental, health and safety and social concerns.
The group recently traveled to the Dominican Republic to work with a non-profit called the Mariposa Foundation and a group of girls to run a WOMP (women's outreach mentorship program) session.
"This trip was the culmination of my desire to work with girls this age. These girls were brave, positive and supportive. They were pursuing education and other disciplines that challenged them, supporting each other all the while. When we left that trip, it turns out I learned more from the girls of the Mariposa Foundation than they ever could have learned from me."
In it's three years as a 501c(3), the CTF has established programs in seven countries and runs multiple campaigns at home and abroad. Its focus is advocating for sustainable travel practices, as well as conducting disaster relief fundraisers.
Darling and the Sea Sisters are currently working to grow a pilot program on the North Shore of Oahu called the Community Compost Movement, which seeks to help residents divert their food scraps from landfills to, instead, convert it to healthy soil.
There seems to be no limit to Leane Darling Horton's journey in life. What started in Boca Raton, eventually spanned the Pacific Ocean, made stops in Spain, Honduras and Costa Rica ultimately landed in Hawaii. Included in the ride, four unforgettable years on the Hilltop.
