Why Swimming Is Worth the Sacrifice and Time Demands
By SuSu Almousa (From the Archive)
Swimmers become “swammers” and swammers typically stay swammers but the sport doesn’t leave us as easily as changing a vowel in our titles. In retirement, we watch meets and there is typically a yearning for a chance to race again. Yet, while we were in the pool, some of us know all too well the struggle of having to trade in our social lives for the sport.
Swimmers do not know the luxury of free time. Since we were little youngsters swimming 25s in the 8-and-under heats, we made a commitment to show up to practice every day and show up to every meet with vigor. This commitment only got stronger as our age division increased.
One-hour practice became three-hour practice. Playing wall-ball before practice became dryland workouts. One practice a day became two during the summer. It seemed like every hour of free time we were granted was traded in for more pool activities.
As a swimmer, we always had somewhere to be. Driving to practice took forever, and then practice itself was never short, so our weekdays were consumed with homework and swimming, as there was always very little time for anything else. Sometimes we had to eat our dinners in the car, or read on the way to practice and we quickly learned how every second was valuable in that respect, but we rarely had time for much else.
Frankly, most of the time, we looked forward to practice because our friends were on our teams and it seemed like less of a workout and more of a happy place where we were allowed time to think, process, and let out any stresses that had held us down that day. But, if practice revolved around lactate levels, somehow we left practice a little more bitter than we entered.
As we grew older, the impact on our social life grew larger and there was always a question floating in the back of our minds when we were obstructed from hanging out with friends because of a prior swimming commitment:
Is it worth it? We would miss out on all the “fun” stuff with friends because we had an out-of-state meet that took the entire weekend? Or is it worth the exhaustion that barred us from wanting to do much other than sleep on our free time? Is it worth the broad shoulders and damaged hair? Is it worth missing every high school party? Is it worth the time commitment in college?
Overall, it would be wrong to say the answer would be the same for all swimmers, but swimmers have a general tenacity about them, that leads me to believe the answer is: yes, it is completely worth it.
The sport teaches us more than how to swim across the length of a pool— it acts as a haven, a safe place, somewhere we feel completely comfortable. No mater where we are in the world, a pool will always be our second home. Swimming is a refuge from all of the anxieties and problems that bog us down, because in the water the only thing that matters is you. As little kids, we went to practice ready to have fun and as we grew up, on bad days we started yearning for the pool time as a way to deal with any frustrations that held us back.
Our best friends were swimmers because no one really gets swimmers quite like other swimmers, so going to practice was just another excuse to see our friends and have someone to gossip with in-between sets. Although we all had school-friends that hosted parties we wish we could have been a part of, deep down we all know that our closest friends are the ones we share a lane with and smack hands with during a butterfly set.
Finally, swimming teaches us things that really are only fully appreciated once we become swammers. Things like character building, and time management, confidence, humility, gratitude, and hard work. Nothing comes easy in life, and nothing comes easy in the water either. No matter how many complaints we have spewed about practice or meets and our lack of any social life, the answer will always be yes. Swimming is worth every social sacrifice, and I’d bet that the majority of swammers feel the same way.
All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.
Beautifully written! I felt such a connection to many of your sentiments here.
Yes. Swimming helped me find my identity. Swimming helped me defeat bullies. Swimming helped me shaped into the person I am today.
Totally worth it and I have niece who plays softball I think that takes more time than swimming
30 minutes every day on my lunch hour and the best workout and clears my mind…I love swimming!! Try it!!
Best title ever! And yes, it’s worth it because my kids are healthy and happy.
Not a time suck when you love it!
So worth every minute.
Very much worth it!!
typo “gets simmers quite like other swimmers”
Thank you! It’s been fixed.
Thanks for this article, spot on for me!
Thank you for the article. So worth!
Worth the sacrifice.
So true
Absolutely worth the sacrifice!
Kimberley Lucas worth a read!
I’d like to read it Stephanie Pike, but unfortunately can’t get the page up.
Absolutely
Worth every minute.
It’s worth it
So worth it!!
Yes
Sii
Evan Smith
Dana
I am who I am because I was a swimmer. I was lucky that my mom always said she would support me but it was up to me if I wants to practice or not. I woke her up rather than she waking me up. It was my choice not hers. Many swimmers burnt out because they didn’t want it as much as their parents. I also don’t like being told what to do so that is an important dynamic. I love swimming to this day. So many great life experiences.
Abby Cochran
gresy
Than there’s the parents side> Waiting waiting waiting, can’t imagine my son not swimming! Waiting worth my Love, every meet, every tear & joy, every medal or ribbon, every yard or meter ?????????
We have traveled countless miles with the kids swimming almost coast to coast. Have supported kids thru a bucket list of major meets Sectionals, Far Westerns, Zones, State championships etc etc. It doesn’t matter if it’s an outdoor meet at 105 degrees in Elko Nv or Clovis CA, -40 when we got to Gillette WY it was the memories we all have of the trips together as a family. 1st place or a dq we will always have the memories.
Molly Peterson – good read:-). ?
Elliott Lewis Gary Dodd
Not only is are these sentiments true for the athletes, but for their entire families. Had two children who swam, one reached the highest attainable swimming goal, the other child, both now adults always shared in the excitement and enthusiasm. Family that swims together, volunteers together, stays together. Keeps our children too busy to ever get in trouble. Awesome article. Thank you
Depends on the individual. For me, swimming was worthwhile as a kid, but would’ve been a huge time-suck in college, so I’m very thankful I didn’t swim in college. Swimming competitively as an adult was also fun at times, but today it would be a huge time-suck. I’ve got too many other things to do, and traveling for swimming competitions doesn’t make the list anymore.
Kathleen Corso Cook. I’m sure Sean can relate. For us, I have to say, change the title to softball and we can totally relate.
A lot easier to look back on with joy than look forward to with joy.
Kiera Mae
Thanks, I needed this as we head for yet another meet in steamy Texas.
There is a right level of swimming for everyone. Sometimes it’s a club time + hs swimming, sometimes just summer league. Whatever the level and commitment, it’ll be worth it! 🙂
COMPLETE..WASTE..OF…TIME….
56 And still worth it. Nothing recharges the body after an overnight shift reading 70-100 MRI or CT Neuro scans like 5000m in the pool (after the post night nap of course !)
Totally recommend swimming for everyone! Such a confidence builder. My kids started at 6-8 years old and still swim. They’ve made great friends in the sport and excelled in school.
Of course it was worth it. Time was never” suck”
The same with any kids sport…especially gymnastics.
Worth every second
Heck yea
Philippa Berrington Blew
Devin Kellett Kenyon Kellett!!!!
Well said! The friendships and connections made through sports is worth all the time sacrificed.
What are you going to get out of hanging out at the mall, filling up on over-priced high cholesterol junk food, moping about what you wish you could buy, picking up a smoking/vaping habit, and being pressured into all kinds of mischief?
Among athletes swimmers are the kings and queens of time management and are scholar athletes. Swimmers are disciplined in and out of the pool. Swimmers are confident and humble at the same time and can accept failure gracefully. There is no better sport.
100 percent. Especially as I see many kids up to no good. Most of these kids are good kids who spend the majority of their time at the pool
The same question can be asked about golf….