Swimming World is producing the live webcast of the 2015 CeraVe Invitational. Click here to watch the live stream, view video interviews and watch races on-demand from previous sessions!
By Woohee Han, Swimming World intern
PISCATAWAY- Behind the intensity and drama of the swimming scene, underneath the lithe, toned muscles working in sync, outside of the violent thrashes and waves of blue and white, the athletes racing each evening at the CeraVe Invitational are, in fact, regular teenagers. When they are not in fierce competition to be the champion of the waters, they still have to study for next week’s algebra test. When they are not completely immersed in focus to get that medal, water rushing in their ears, the endless blue in front of their eyes, they still are anxious to see the hottest movie. Young, aspiring swimmers have to find a way to compromise the demands of their athletic life with those from their academic requirements and social callings.
How is this possible?
Swimming, like any sport, consumes an enormous amount of time, arguably more than most. There are constant practices and meets. When one reaches a certain level high enough to compete in major meets such as the CeraVe Invitational, balancing their swimming activities with academics and social life can be even harder to manage.
High school senior Mavin Liu struggles with the balance of these three major components daily. “After school I go straight to practice” he said. “I have time to do homework between practices, but that’s about the only time I have. As for social life, I hang out with my friends during the weekends. Although I swim on the weekends, it doesn’t take up all day. Balancing academics, athletics and social life isn’t a huge struggle, but it’s not easy either. I’ve gotten better at managing time because I developed a rhythm.”
For others, such as eighth-grader River Wright, it is easy to work out their schedules.
“Usually I put education first. I put homework before swimming, and sometimes skip swimming if I have to. But when there are meets where I have to miss school, like CeraVe, I spend two weeks in preparation, and I put swim before school. My social life is not a huge problem, because I have a lot of friends in the swimming community.”
Time spent as a teenager is one of the most important and difficult periods in a person’s life. Pressures of academics and college, competition with fellow peers, and less time spent together to have fun with friends slowly but surely creep up, and it can be hard deciding what to do and what not to do. These struggles are especially rigorous and troublesome to go through as an athlete, especially swimmers.
Finding the balance between swimming, academics, and social life is and will continue to be a perpetual dilemma to all young swimmers around the world. Although it is very difficult, swimming in meets like the CeraVe Invitational can bring joy to those who are truly dedicated to swimming. After all, isn’t finding happiness in the midst of various toils in life the most important thing?
