Love and Hate: The Mixed Feelings of Swimmers
By Evangelia Vasilakis, Swimming World College Intern.
Swimming is one of the sports that a person can participate in for many years. There’s something about it that draws people in and keeps them here. But after a while, swimmers might start to grow frustrated and develop mixed feelings about the sport. Here are reasons why swimmers both love and hate the sport.
The Time Commitment
As all swimmers know, swimming takes up much of a person’s time. Between swim meets, practices and lifts, swimmers can spend an average of two to four hours a day dedicated to the sport. This can cause an athlete to grow tired. A swimmer, like other athletes, has to sacrifice much of their time, often leaving them to miss out on events and free moments.
The Friendships
Swimmers love the sport because it gives them the opportunity to meet people they will never forget. Teammates often grow super close, becoming best friends. Swimmers tend to say their team is like family. These friendships make the sport so much more important to some. I can say swimming has brought me some of my best friends.
The Injuries
Like any sport, swimming can cause injuries. These injuries might lead some people to lose a love for the sport. The constant strain on our muscles is something that not everyone is willing to endure. Sometimes, injuries can force a swimmer to have to stop after a while. This often leads to frustration for someone who loves the sport.
The Competition
There is no better competition than swimming. It is something so individual that it makes it that much more fun. Many swimmers love the competition side of swimming. Athletes train hard because they love the feeling of racing. There are not many sports that rely on the individual as much as the team. Swimming is perfect for those who love individual competition.
The Plateaus
Almost every swimmer can relate to the concept of plateauing. This means that their times have not improved in a while. This can often lead a swimmer to quit. It can be extremely frustrating for a swimmer when they are constantly training hard but cannot drop any time. I have found myself a victim of this many times. Swimmers often stop swimming when dealing with a prolonged plateau.
The Little Victories
Swimmers know the importance of the little victories. They relish them, knowing that they worked so hard. Whether it be improved technique or a race triumph, it all adds up. These victories keep a swimmer going, and breathe love into the sport.
Overall, there are countless reasons why swimmers have mixed feelings about the sport. And these feeling often grow and change throughout our swimming careers.
All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.