You have made me cry a million times. You’ve made me think to the point of mental exhaustion, and you’ve broken down my body. You’ve made me immune to Advil.
But at the same time, you’ve made me smile a million and one times. You’ve taught me how to have a winner’s mindset and how to fight through physical pain. You’ve taught me how to help myself.
It’s no question you are one of the hardest sports out there. Us swimmers need to be fit, but not just in our legs or our arms. Everywhere. Your training is relentless. The clock has no mercy. It won’t hear our excuses.
And even when we’re positive and we put all of ourselves into you, sometimes races still don’t go our way. Because mental strength is just as important. We have to know how to make our bodies do exactly what it needs to do, at exactly the right moment. And if we make one mistake, it could cost us half a second. And half a second could mean everything.
As much as you have broken down my confidence, you’ve built it right back up. You have enabled me to discipline myself like very few people in this world ever will. You have taught me how to prioritize. But, most importantly, you have taught me how to keep pushing when the going gets tough. And it took me a long time to realize how strong you have made me.
Throughout my decade as a swimmer, I’ve watched so many people quit. I’ve asked myself why I swim. But the answer was always simple: I just can’t give it up.
Even though it’s been a few years since I’ve swum a lifetime best, I’ve come too far to quit. You’ve planted a strong desire in me to lower the number on the board. It’s never gone away, and I don’t think it ever will. That desire is what makes us true athletes. The relentless, never-good-enough attitude. Always wanting to be better. Thank you for making me always want to be better.
You are a huge part of who I am. I’ve never seen another sport that is as complex as you are. You’re a team sport, but if we mess up, it’s on us, and only us. You’re physically challenging but you also force us to be in incredibly good mental shape. And nothing teaches dedication like staring at the same black line for 15 hours a week.
I held onto you because no matter how much you broke me down on the pool deck, you’ve made me so much stronger emotionally, intellectually, and academically. And I wouldn’t trade that strength for anything.
Thank you for presenting me with my most testing moments, and forcing me to be strong. Thank you for allowing me to make mistakes, and making me realize that it’s okay.
Thank you for being my home. My safe haven. My happy place.
I love you so much.
Sincerely,
A Forever Indebted Swimmer
All of this is so true people have no idea how hard us swimmers work and what swimming means to us but swimmers will always have each others backs thx so much #swimmer4life
Swimming gave me confidence in general. Wish I had stayed for my senior at Utah. Just coming into my own but just not dedicated. Regret it….sort of.
Even though I am only 14, I am a swimmer and I have been for 9 years… and By the end of this I was crying because it reminded me of all the good times and the bad. But if your a swimmer that’s what you have to live through. And honestly, the tears wernt sad tears, they were tears of joy from remembering the good times I had during swims, because even if you did get last place in your event, you still had your friends and families who came and helped you though them.
Swimming will always have a place in my heart
As a swimmer who recently just finished competing, this made me cry. Swimming has been the center of my world for 7 years. I love it and owe so much to the sport and my coaches for making me the person I am today. I miss swimming everyday but am absolutely loving coaching. Watching the joy swimming brings to my kids is just as incredible as the joy I experienced competing myself.
Dear Swimming,
You gave my shy daughter the confidence to stand proudly on the block-the center of attention. You gave my other daughter a sport that she can excel in even with a kidney disease. You gave us a place where they could work hard in the water, have fun on the deck, and make lifelong friends and memories. I cannot imagine their childhood without the smell of chlorine in their hair and wet towels and suits hanging all over the house. Next fall will be our final high school swim season and the tears are already srarting for this mom. Thank you for all you have done to help my daughters become the great young women they are today.
dear swimming you are the best thing that has ever happened to me you’ve tought me to keep pushing when it gets hard and now im racing aganst four kids my age that are all training 12 hours a week and you pushed me to do 13
THANK YOU I’ll never quit on you no matter how tuff it gets.
I have been involved with swimmers, coaches, officials both local and world wide. I have found them all to be among the brightest and best indiviuals around. Swimmimg does build character and provides a life long result. As a swimming family I say “THANK YOU”.
Swimming is not for the faint of heart. As a swimmer when I was in college, things were not easy. Yes I may have gotten better grades without it, but swimming has given me an edge over other people when it comes to employment. The dedication it takes to be a serious swimmer stays with you throughout your entire life.