Happy Olympic Year

Happy New Year. But not just any New Year. Happy Olympic Year.

January 1st for most of the world marks an opportunity for renewal, an opportunity to refresh, to make resolutions, to set new goals, to reach for new horizons. But not for the world’s elite swimmers. For the world’s elite swimmers, the day represents almost the completely different: the start of the final drive toward the Olympic Games.

January 1st, 2020 isn’t then a refresh or a reset for swimming (or other Olympic athletes). It’s the end of a four-year cycle of work that leads to over 11,000 of the world’s athletes marching into the New National Stadium in Tokyo on July 24th.

If you’ve waited until January 1st to start new, to refresh, to make resolutions, and to do work, then you’re already too late.

The date, 2020, the cornerstone of major programs across the world because of its homophonous sound to universal ‘perfect vision,’ once seemed impossibly far into the future, but now its here.

On the way to Tokyo are Olympic Trials meets, training meets, workouts, and victories big-and-small. Even for those for whom Tokyo is a dream too far or too soon, the Olympic year takes on a special new meaning. Your friends will suddenly be talking about the sport we all love, swimming, and will be asking you who is going to replace Michael Phelps.

Even if Tokyo is not in your 2020 plans, use the Olympic year as your own special motivation. Between now and your next practice, figure out what your swimming dream is, and commit to reaching for it this year. When you don’t feel like getting up, when you decide that the water is too cold, when you decide that set is too long or the intervals are too short, rely on that dream to push you forward.

Every 2020 Olympian, every state champion, everyone who’s ever done anything of significance in this sport began with a dream, began with a single practice where they decided to push themselves to the physical brink.

The work hits different in an Olympic year. The stars hit different in an Olympic year. The dream hits different in an Olympic year.

Happy Olympic Year. We’ll see you in Omaha, we’ll see you in London, we’ll see you in Madgeburg and Riccione and Adelaide and Chartres and Nairobi, in Rio and Jenks, Oklahoma, and Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Wherever there’s a pool with swimmers who are willing to chase a dream, we’ll see you there.

And then we’ll see you all in Japan.

-SwimSwam

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Lane 8
4 years ago

Missed it by a day but still, make the most of the season, decade, or the rest of your swim career. Happy Olympic Year to anyone reading this.
Honestly I got super stressed when I realized the new year, decade, Olympic year was approaching. I was like, get ready for this. Set resolutions. Refresh. But I didn’t want to. I just wanted to keep sticking with my goals and rules for myself I made at the start of the season. Does anyone else feel like this?
It will be a good one #2020vision

Gheko
4 years ago

Happy New Year to all at Swimswam! ❤🇦🇺🦘🇦🇺🥇🥈🥉🏄‍♂️

Kristiina
4 years ago

Japan is one most dangerous country in the world, expescially Tokyo and Nakai regions. Multiple nature/seismic disaster risk is very high. Also until 12 metres tsunami risk is very High in Sagamy bay and Tokyo bay. Seismic silent ongoing already 97 years what is very long time. Sanriku earthqake ineterval was 78 yeast(1933 and 2011) You need mobile apps and evacuation plane.

Kristiina
Reply to  Kristiina
4 years ago

Last major earthquake in Tokyo region. 8.0 magnitude earthuquake Yokohama. 140000 died, 12 metres tsunami and six very large aftershocks and more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_Great_Kantō_earthquake

Kristiina
Reply to  Kristiina
4 years ago

Mt Fuji is not died vulcano. Double risk. Pressure in magma chamber is very high.

Torchbearer
Reply to  Kristiina
4 years ago

Still safer than walking the rough streets of say RIo or LA at night…

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Kristiina
4 years ago

WTF ????

Brad Flood
4 years ago

🎉🎊🥂HAPPY, PROSPEROUS & FASTEST NEW YEAR🥂🎊🎉to ALL Swimmers & Swammers around the World!

Woke Stasi
4 years ago

And for those fortunate enough to make their country’s Olympic team, make sure you on your best behavior in Tokyo. No messing around stealing a $900 stone mask from a bar a la Troy Dalbey and Doug Gjersten at the Seoul Olys in 1988 (arrested and jailed), or goofing around at a gas station a la Lochte et al in Rio.

Today I am celebrating businessman Carlos Ghosn’s daring escape from Tokyo several days ago. The Japanese mean business. Rule of Law, presumption of innocence, and Justice as we know it in Japan are virtually unknown. If you are arrested and charged, there is 99% chance you will be convicted. Justice in Japan is vindication their social values are… Read more »

Torchbearer
Reply to  Woke Stasi
4 years ago

For those with a long memory, Dawn Fraser did some fooling around at the last Olympics in Tokyo (allegedly stole a flag), and it ended her career with a long ban….

Texas Tap Water
Reply to  Woke Stasi
4 years ago

“Today I am celebrating businessman Carlos Ghosn’s daring escape from Tokyo several days ago.”

Wow..I just googled it. It sounds even more dramatic than Mission Impossible.

Bobo Gigi
4 years ago

Happy New Year to all the SwimSwam team!
And thank you for everything you do for us, swim fans from all over the world.