Yet another random question that I was curious about. Obviously everyone here is either physically fit or well on their way, but do you consider yourself to be an athlete? What do you consider an athlete to be?
Parents
Former Member
This athlete-or-not-an-athlete discussion has been very interesting to me. I am a person who possesses NO natural athletic ability whatsoever. I was always the brainy kid who excelled at academics but failed everything in the President's Physical Fitness Test. Now, at age 44, I'm STILL mad at my junior high gym teachers. If it weren't for them, I would have had straight A's in every subject every year from Grades 1 through 12.
It's ironic, then, that I "found" Masters swimming at age 26 and have stuck with it, attending at least 3 workouts per week, for 18 years. And that I've swum in dozens of Masters swim meets and open water swims.
Thanks to that total lack of athletic ability, I've finished last in my share of races. And I've frustrated a handful of coaches who have been unable to improve my freestyle.
But you know what? I went to a new doctor a couple of months ago. As soon as she put the stethoscope on my chest and listened, she said, "Wow. You've got the heart of an athlete."
So while I may not "deserve" to call myself an athlete, I do. I even describe myself as a "competitive swimmer". (Hey, technically it's true. I swim in competitions, don't I? I just don't mention the part about finishing last!)
This athlete-or-not-an-athlete discussion has been very interesting to me. I am a person who possesses NO natural athletic ability whatsoever. I was always the brainy kid who excelled at academics but failed everything in the President's Physical Fitness Test. Now, at age 44, I'm STILL mad at my junior high gym teachers. If it weren't for them, I would have had straight A's in every subject every year from Grades 1 through 12.
It's ironic, then, that I "found" Masters swimming at age 26 and have stuck with it, attending at least 3 workouts per week, for 18 years. And that I've swum in dozens of Masters swim meets and open water swims.
Thanks to that total lack of athletic ability, I've finished last in my share of races. And I've frustrated a handful of coaches who have been unable to improve my freestyle.
But you know what? I went to a new doctor a couple of months ago. As soon as she put the stethoscope on my chest and listened, she said, "Wow. You've got the heart of an athlete."
So while I may not "deserve" to call myself an athlete, I do. I even describe myself as a "competitive swimmer". (Hey, technically it's true. I swim in competitions, don't I? I just don't mention the part about finishing last!)
