My heart to swim competitively burned out when I was seventeen - though I swam another year (my senior year in high school). Then 33 years later I got back in the pool, and like many others, discovered that I had a renewed passion to compete. That seems in some ways strange to me, so I've been thinking about why I compete. I've reached the conclusion that I really wasn't done when I left the pool at eighteen - rather, I just needed a breather. (That was one huge oxygen debt!) I wonder if one day I'll be done competing, or if this passion is a lifelong one, like the passion for fitness and health that my swimming serves regardless of whether or not I compete.
Because it is really fun and challenging. I started doing masters swimming last year and I am finally having a good time swimming. I was miserable swimming from when I was 16 to 19. Now, I am excited about swimming. I look forward to masters meets and I am thinking of doing a 1500 and 800 freestyle again.
I have been involved in competitive swimming for 32 years. 16 as a competitor and 16 as a coach. I quit competing after college because I had run the gamit; from 8 and under to senior in college. I used my time for other things like working, coaching, creating a family. We recently had a Y constructed 200 yards from my backdoor. I do not like to run and needed something to prolong the inevitable. Swimming is it. I have yet to compete in a masters event, don't even belong to a club as of yet. But I do know this: I used to train to compete. I now will compete because I train. Think about it, there is a big difference.
Originally posted by knelson
One reason I compete is it keeps me going. If I don't have a meet to train for down the road I find myself coming up with a lot of excuses and skipping workouts. I'm sure there are people out there who have the willpower to swim consistently without ever competing, but I guess I'm not one of them!
I'm a fitness swimmer, but I'm gonna start competing next year probably. I've motivated myself without having a meet to go to and just kept going. But as I began to think about it, I got sick of swimming for just fitness. I've proved to myself that I'm a good (well, decent) swimmer, now I'm ready to prove it to everybody else! That's why I'm competing!
~Kyra
Why do we compete?
I work in our local hospital. There have been several patients, some friends, who have died in their sixties from COPD, while survivors are tethered to an oxygen bottle from their late 50's. The only excercise they got was lifting their cigarettes to their mouths. I'm not a smoker, but this was an eye opener.
Using my father as a role model (Dad is now 81, a diabetic using diet, attitude, weight, and excercise so he needs no injections), I decided to get serious. I did not want to end up like some of the
the patients I saw.
Swimming was my sport in AAU and high school so I made up my mind to give it a try at the ripe old age of 44. Partly to encourage my son to particiapte in swimming, but mostly to regain my strength and agility, I wondered about joining the USA team 30 miles to the north. The final push came when a college friend encouraged me to join and swim with the kids. She did, and loved it. Could I? (While driving to sign up, my son asked "But, Dad, shouldn't you retire from sports at your age?")
I was so nervous for my first USA/AAU meet since 1974. But when I walked out of the locker room and was met with that glorious humidity, chemical smell, the sounds which are so familiar in a swimming venue, and the pool set up for a meet; I knew I was home.
That was October 1998 and I'm still competing, although I limit competing to the fall season. I've made many new friends among coaches, parents, USMS swimmers, age group swimmers, and officials. It's great to see them year after year to share stories about their kids, meets and the other activities in their lives. I've followed swimmers as they go on to college, and new swimmers who are beginning to find the zone. It's a wonderful community that few people appreciate. It's not about winning or losing. When you are moving and particiapte you always win no matter what place you get in a race.
My son? Well, he chose football. I never miss a game.
I compete because it is inspiring. And Motivating.
My heros are the 90 year olds who can get to a pool several times a week, change, jump in the pool and complete a workout. Get dressed and continue on with their day. AS they have done for decades and decades.
Plus survive a cardless meet. Travel to another country and compete.
My book I tote around to every meet (indoor and outdoor/open water) "Dangerous When Wet" has pages filled with signatures of these truly inspirational swimming heros!!
At the worlds in 2002 there were 4 men in the 90-94, an 85 year young lady from Spain did an 800, and 4 of the 7 80-85 year old ladies dived in from the blocks. 2 80 year old ladies and ?3 men did a 200 fly and a few did the 400IM.
I chauffered the Swedish team as they were amazing. An 83 year old man thought nothing of walking a good 25-30 minutes to the pool every day.
There were far too many other inspiring swimmers in ever age group, all pumped and ready to set another Personal Best to list. As there are in any meet, no matter what the level.
For me so much inspiration and motivation.
It is inspiring to look back at my progress over the years. From a complete novice, 17 years ago to this day.
My first meet was memorable. The water looked so blue. And Still. And those huge serious looking lane ropes were breath taking. The officials all dressed in white, and very business like, scared what breath I had left away. I fronted up for the 400. In a slow heat and I was 1/2 the age of most. Well I thought, Should be able to stick with these swimmers. Well, by 250 meters I was ready to puke, thought about getting out, but thought how embarrassing that would be. By now I had no idea how far I had gone, so kept swimming until I was fished out.
I came out with a new respect for all of my fellow swimmers.
I had so much to learn, yet this was exciting, so exciting.
To see the vast improvements I have made over the past 17 years, to reflect on the goals I reach each time I compete. To achieve what was almost unthinkable;actually breaking several records, even a National one. To conquer my undaunting fear of the open water, compete and set new and even more challenging goals.
If I didn't dream, how would I ever know just how high I could reach. If I didn't set goals how would I know how far I could go. Achieving those goals, be they small or large, is immeasurable.
I compete:
To discover determination, resilience, discipline, focus.
To discover confidence, strength and self pride.
To learn the value of challenging myself to reach those goals.
To be motivated and inspired by my fellow athletes.
To encourage, motivate and inspire others.
Kiwi
