Hello all! I've browsed the forums a bit but this is my first real post. I guess I should start with my background. I am a 21 year old personal trainer who recently fell in love with swimming. Before I started swimming I was a competitive weight lifter. I started training about 4 months ago and I swim about 20 hours a week and I'm still in the process of trimming my weight down. I was really inspired to start trying to get competitive but because of my age and height (5'9) i got kinda turned off. Is there any hope of me competing at a moderately high level at my height and age? I know I only have 3 years till I move up a bracket in nationals so I was curious on others opinions if I was just wasting my time.
I think you just need to go to a masters meet and observe. You'll see all ages and all shapes and sizes. You'll definitely be able to compete. However, if your definition of compete is at a Michael Phelps level then I'd have to say you may be "wasting your time". Most people don't take up swimming at 21 and become an Olympian. However, a lifetime of fitness and competition await you in USMS.
I think you just need to go to a masters meet and observe. You'll see all ages and all shapes and sizes. You'll definitely be able to compete. However, if your definition of compete is at a Michael Phelps level then I'd have to say you may be "wasting your time". Most people don't take up swimming at 21 and become an Olympian. However, a lifetime of fitness and competition await you in USMS.
