The Five Types Of Awards Swimming Has to Offer

hopkins-podium-bud-erichs

By Siobhan Dale, Swimming World College Intern

Awards are often defined simply by what they are. A gold medal is a victory, a silver medal is a disappointment, a bronze medal may be a relief. But there’s a story behind every award. Often times we ignore that story and instead focus on the medal rather than the person wearing it. But there’s significance to each story that a swimmer has to offer, regardless of whether that swimmer is wearing a gold medal, a bronze medal, or even no medal at all.

Here are five examples of the different types of awards that swimmer has to offer, and what exactly those awards may mean to the sport and to the people receiving them.

1. The Participation Award 

1901180_633475330035386_950528119_n

This one always felt a bit like a rude joke. But each and every person in each and every sport has received one of these. No matter how corny or how lame we might think this certificate or blue ribbon is, we should be proud of it. We are a participant in the sport of swimming – that’s the best award swimming has ever given me.

2. The Second Place Medal

Jul 14, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Natalie Coughlin of the United States reacts after receiving her silver medal after the women's 100m freestyle swimming final during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Pan Am Aquatics UTS Centre and Field House. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Whether it was at a dual meet, a state meet, or a national one, this one always hurts. We desire gold and we’ll dutifully accept bronze…silver though, we’re afraid of silver. Afraid of the almost it seems to scream at us. I’ve had moments where I couldn’t even look at silver. Until my sister won it one year at our high school state meet, and I realized that there was a lot more to the person than just the medal hanging around his or her neck. And that was the first time I have ever been more proud of silver than I was of gold.

3. The Relay Medal

Jul 16, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Courtney Harnish , Gillian Ryan and Allison Schmitt of the United States celebrate after winning the women's swimming 4x200m freestyle relay final during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Pan Am Aquatics UTS Centre and Field House. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

You would think that seeing three other people accomplish the exact same thing as you, would make the accomplishment a little less special. But really, those three other people are the ones making the accomplishment meaningful.

4. The Non-Existent Award 

(140817) -- Nanjing,Aug 17,2014 (Xinhua) -- Gold medalist Vien Nguyen Thi Anh of Vietnam rests after the final of Women's 200m Individual Medley of Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, capital of east China?s Jiangsu Province, on Aug. 17, 2014. (Xinhua/Yang Lei) (txt)

Photo Courtesy: Xinhua/Yang Lei

Maybe you got this award because you messed up? Maybe you got this award because you just weren’t as good as everyone else? The point is you didn’t get an award. And it hurts right now. But in a few days, or months, or however long it takes, you’re going to look back on this meet and realize that despite not getting an award, you were able to get something else. A chance to be on deck with some of your best friends. A chance to stand behind the blocks and make new ones. A chance to swim.

5. The Gold Medal

Sep 6, 2012; London, United Kingdom; Jessica Long (USA) collects her gold medal for the women's 100m freestyle S8 final during the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Aquatics Centre. Mandatory Credit: Paul Cunningham-USA TODAY SportsYeah. This one feels pretty good.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

3 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Brooke Bernstein
8 years ago

Rica Generoso hey thats you ?

Rica Generoso
8 years ago

Oheeeyyy

Luma Hameed Ghani
8 years ago

Fay Salam

3
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x