10 Christmas Gifts For Swimmers

By Allison Peters, Swimming World intern

If you haven’t noticed already, swimmers are a different breed of humans. After all, how many non-swimmers would willingly get into an ice-cold pool at 5 in the morning, or train for six months straight so they can cut just .01 off a time? That dedication deserves to be rewarded!

Coaches and parents, you can get your swimmers gifts they are dying for, possibly literally. These are 10 Christmas gifts for swimmers. Some of them can’t be made in Santa’s workshop.

Underwater Headphones

Staring at the bottom of a pool for hours a day can get extremely boring and tedious. Give your swimmer these for Christmas and it will redefine their swimming experience! Not only will it help keep your swimmer focused, but it will give them the extra boost of adrenaline they need to finish a set successfully.

A Holiday Practice Get-Out Swim
Coaches, this is something only you can give your swimmers! Not only is it time off they deserve from all the yardage you will be giving them, but it’s a way to push them past their breaking point. It’s always important to motivate your swimmers to swim fast even when they are tired!

Food

We all know swimmers are monsters in the pool and at the dinner table. Though when the holidays roll around, yardages are raised and double workouts are made mandatory. A swimmer’s hunger grows with the extra physical demands. Get your swimmer a variety of snacks to keep them satisfied. Nutrition bars, Powerbars, trail mix and peanut butter crackers are always easy for them to throw in their swim bags when they’re on the go!

Swim Bag

Continuing from my last point, swimmers do tend to carry nutrition bars, Powerbars, trail mix and peanut butter crackers in their bags … from 2006. I just received the second swim bag of my 14-year career last year! Swim bags are often forgotten as a present, but if you take a look at your swimmers’ bags, you’ll see that nine times out of ten, they could use one without the crumbs, mold and thick smell of chlorine.

Chlorine Removal Shampoo

You may be able to just buy your swimmers a new bag to get rid of the chlorine smell, but you can’t do the same when it comes to their hair. Instead, try buying them a bottle of chlorine removal shampoo. Not only will it help with smell, but it will prevent their hair from going that beautiful shade of mold green!

GoPro Camera

This camera can allow your swimmers to take awesome underwater photos! It’s the perfect gift to get your swimmer before training trip so they can document their experiences in and out of the pool.

More Sleep

This is something every athlete desperately needs. Coaches, try and have your morning practices pushed back an hour. Your swimmers will thank you!

Shammies
These towels are necessary for every swimmer no matter the age. Not only do they save moms everywhere the headache of washing chlorine-infested towels each week, they allow swimmers to stay dry and warm on deck and after practice.

A Recovery Day
There is nothing a swimmer hopes for more each day than to walk into practice and see the words “Today is recovery” on the chalk board. Coaches, sometimes this is just what your swimmers need to stay both physically and mentally in shape.

A Best Time

This is something only your swimmer can get themselves this season. It will help them remember their love for the sport and they will certainly be ready to achieve greatness come championships!

Find all your gifts in Swimming World’s Holiday Gift Guide