By Chandler Brandes, Swimming World College Intern
We all have a love-hate relationship with swimming. Although we sometimes complain about the early mornings and the hard workouts, at the end of the day, we keep coming back. We can get caught up in the stress of balancing classes, homework, practice, work, a social life, etc., and it’s easy to lose sight of what’s important. Swimming is an amazing sport, and we all should be grateful that we have the opportunity to be a part of such an inspiring swimming community.
Here are 35 things swimmers sometimes take for granted:
- When you join a swim team, you automatically gain a second family.
- Finishing a full workout before most people are even awake.
- The sense of unity in the sport.
- Teammates who know you better than you know yourself.
- Swim parkas.
- Fans (even if it’s mostly parents) who come watch our meets.
- When the water is warmer than the air.
- Officials and timers who work endlessly at our meets.
- Coaches who believe in you, even when you don’t believe in yourself.
- Successfully completing a really hard practice.
- Getting a best time or a new cut time (even if it’s by .01).
- Hearing your teammates cheer for you before your race.
- The feeling when you (finally) finish the 1650.
- Knowing you are part of a much bigger swimming community.
- The first day of taper after months of hard training.
- Seeing your teammates again after holiday breaks.
- The excitement on deck at a championship meet.
- Families who support you no matter what.
- Little kids on your team who look up to you.
- The fact that the clock doesn’t lie.
- Eating plates and plates of food after practice with no regrets.
- Feeling accomplished when you reach your goal.
- When you finally get your technical suit on, even though it took 25 minutes.
- A hot shower after a long meet.
- Teammates who know exactly what you’re going through.
- Practice can be an escape after a long day.
- Bus rides with your team after a win.
- We are some of the fittest athletes on the planet.
- People from other teams cheering for you during the race of your life.
- The opportunities swimming provides.
- It’s a lifetime sport.
- Naps.
- The memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
- The rare instances when swimming is on TV.
- The opportunity to do what we love each and every day.
Every once in a while, take a step back and appreciate the little things. Thank the timer at the end of your lane, take time to say “hi” to the younger swimmer who idolizes you, and cherish the moments you spend with your team. The next time you have to turn your alarm off at 5 a.m., remind yourself of the things you’re thankful for that our sport has to offer. Because, whether we care to admit it or not, we will forever be grateful for swimming.
#25 and 32 are you and I J.c. Drygasuk
Antonio Carlos Orselli
31,24,21 Bridget Semenuk Maddie Hartigan Jazmine Smith Mikayla Klein
Faxxxxx Josie Panitz
Arlene McShane
Ok Georgia Sykes ??!!!
nahh, still wanna quit.
Nooooo don’t do it!! I mean it!!
Nice thoughts, Chandler! Well done.
Megan Short
Garrett Kirkland this is a good read
Wyatt Cox
Water warmer than the air? Having experienced water at the same temperature as the air recently, it’s really unpleasant when training hard. Cold water all the way.
Marta Gallazzi Kaitie Atkins
Yeah Maggie Vassileva ?