“I Love Swimming”: A Swimmer Story

Recently, I sent out a post asking what you get out of swimming. Why you love to swim.

The point of the post was to think. I wanted swimmers to reflect on swimming and what it is about the sport that they love so much. Why do they do it? Why do they keep coming back? It’s easy to take it for granted, without stopping to acknowledge or appreciate the things you love about the sport.

One of our swimmers sent in a reply.

I love the time taken and the reflection involved just as much as the words themselves. Here is his story and his reasons for loving swimming.

I Love Swimming!

“Funny one this, made me think a lot.

For those of us who were competitive swimmers in our youth, many of us walked away from the sport – as you get burnt out by the relentless training required to swim at a decent level.

Life comes along and there are distractions. Girlfriends, nights out, beers, night clubs, Uni,……..life gets in the way.

I moved to Water Polo and did that from about 16-33 and played to a decent level. I would not say I loved my swimming then but it was a necessary evil to play the sport I loved and the training was very different and the fitness was a different sort of fitness.

Life got in the way a little more. Second child, career, Masters degree…..you know……stuff. I did not really do anything at all for about 10 years.

I decided I needed to do something and started swimming again and started to enjoy it. I was going before work a couple of times a week and was enjoying it. I was feeling better, sleeping better.

Then I bumped into Bryan, cannot remember where. We were old mates, school friends (he is much older than me being in the year above me) and I also swam with the same club (Penguins). I was mates with his brother Adam, another great swimmer. Bryan convinced me to try Swim Squad. I remember going for my first session on a Monday, my wife thought it would be a one off and enjoyed me telling her about it when I got home……the rest is history.”

What Do I Love?

What do I love?

I love swimming with purpose.

I love that whilst swimming is an individual thing, when you are part of a team you never feel lonely.

I love the “in the moment” feeling that takes me away from everything else that is going on in a busy life. No matter what is going on in life, I feel better after training.

I love swimming in a lane with other like-minded swimmers who push me on days when I am feeling rubbish, and who I push when they are not at their best. Lane buddies rock!

I love training harder with a group than I ever would on my own.

I love racing again, I never thought I would be on the blocks in competitive race in my late 40’s (nearly 50) but I bloody love it.

I love being around a supportive group of people who only want the best for each other, I have never had that – as there always used to be people who wanted you to lose so they could win …… we are past that now!

Getting back to loving swimming has meant my fitness has improved, my stress levels are lower, I sleep better.

I love swimming fast!!!!!

I love swimming!”

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Apart from the bit about me being a lot older, I love this! Oh, and I didn’t have to work very hard to convince him to come to Swim Squad. I was pushing against an open door.

Did this story resonate with you? Do this swimmers reasons for loving swimming chime with your own?

What do you love about swimming? Message me, I would love to hear it!