Swimmers duniya ke most exposed athletes me se ak hain.
Wo na sirf kisi individual sport compete karte hain, balki wo minimal clothing or highly form-fitting swimsuits bhi pahente hain.
Unki bodies aur age ke saath aane wale inevitable changes duniya bhar ke lakhon logon ke saamne hote hain, jisse unhe judge hone ke dar se mental stress ho sakta hai.
Eight-time Olympic medalist and current women’s 100m backstroke world record holder, United States ki Regan Smith, especially young swimmers ke liye empathy rakhti hain.
Unhone bataya, “Personally, main grateful hun ki main swimsuit pahenkar badi hui. Bachpan se meri sabhi birthday parties mere swim school me hi hoti thi. Isliye mere liye meri skin expose rahna bahot normal baat thi.”
“Lekin main poori tarah se sympathize hun. Swimsuit pahenkar ghoomna mere liye bilkul naya experience hai aur aap apni body ka kaafi hissa dikha rahe hote hain.”
Smith, jinhone haal hi me psychology padhna start kiya hai, ne kuchh useful tips diye hain jinka use athletes swimsuit pahente time jada comfortable feel karne ke liye karte hain.
Unhone aage kaha, “Main unn cheezon par focus karna recommend karti hun jo aapko sach me confidence se bhar de aur jinka aapke skin ke amount se koi lena dena na ho.”
“Mujhe har competition se pahle apne nails karana, cute earrings pahenna aur apni accessories ke saath maje karna pasand hai.”
“Mujhe colours ke saath bhi bahot maja aata hai. Agar mere paas koi aisa suit hai jo black nahi hai, toh maine pahle purple aur blue colour ke tech suit pahne hain. Aur agar mere paas koi pyara sa parka hai aur itne saare alag-alag logon ke saamne compete kar rahe hain toh isse mujhe khud jaisa feel karne me bahot help milti hai.”
Federica Pellegrini Ne Media Spotlight Ko Kaise Deal Kiya
Swimmer hone ke pressure ke baare me legendary Federica Pellegrini se behtar koi nahi janta.
Italian athlete Pellegrini ne jab 2004 Athens Olympics me women’s 200m freestyle event me silver medal jeeta tha, tab unki age 16 saal thi. Iske baad unhe spotlight me aane ke liye struggle karna pada, jo Beijing 2008 me gold medal jeetne ke baad aur badh gaya.
Unhone bataya, “Swimming me mera 20 saal ka career raha hai, isliye main har din swimsuit pahenkar hi bitati rahi hun. 12 saal ki age se lekar 30 ki age tak aapki body me kaafi changes aate hain aur aapke aas paas har koi aapko dekh raha hota hai, especially agar aap successful hon, jaise main itni kam age me lucky rahi. Ye period mere liye sach me tough tha kyunki Italy ka saara media har pal mujhpe focused tha aur jab meri body change hone lagi toh use bhi cover kar liya. Ye wo time tha jab mujhe jo mujhe mirror me dikhta tha, wo mujhe bilkul pasand nahi aata tha. Isliye early years me mujhe har din swimsuit pahenne me problem hoti thi. Ye easy nahi tha.”
Pellegrini, jinhone World Championships me lagatar 8 200m freestyle medals jeete aur Instagram par lagbhag 2 million se jada followers hain, ko jald hi ehsas ho gaya ki wo lagatar scrutiny and popularity ko akele nahi jhel payengi.
“Ak saal baad, jab mujhe constantly judge hone se problem hone lagi toh maine ak psychologist ko bulane ka decision liya aur meri life ke iss point tak har moment mere saath ak mental coach raha hain.”
Ben Proud: “It’s About Accepting Yourself as You Are.”
Body exposure bahot se swimmers ko affect karta hai phir unka gender chahe kuchh bhi ho. Great Britain ke Ben Proud, jo do baar ke sprinting world champion and Paris 2024 ke silver medalist hain, ne iss baat par jor diya ki world ke best swimmers bhi lack of confidence se suffer kar sakte hain.
Unhone kaha, “Hume aisa tarika find karna hoga jahan log tair sakein aur compete kar sakein, lekin apne tarike se. Hum nahi chahte ki sab ak jaise hon. Humein ye ensure karna hoga ki log tairte samay khush rahein aur maje karein. Unhe wo banna hoga jo wo banna chahte hain.
“Unhe khud me confidence jagana hoga. Ye funny hai kyunki typically, world ke best swimmers confident nahi hote. Aksar wo least confident hote hain.
“Toh, ye iss baare me chinta na karne ki koshish karne ke baare me hai ki doosre log kya sochte hain aur wo khud ko waise hi accept karein jaise aap hain.”
