Overcoming Adversity

Overcoming Adversity A sports injury can be an overwhelming experience, and many athletes stop training because of the pain. This is understandable, but if you can overcome your injury and learn how to strengthen the inherent weakness, you could become a stronger competitor. Once you've gone through an injury you gain a deeper understanding of your limitations, and grow a stronger appreciation of your abilities. Somewhere in the back of your mind you realize that all this could be taken away, so you train smarter and perform better. Most masters will encounter some sort of injury along the way, but staying determined to get through the negative experience will become your greatest strength. Nothing feels better than having the ability to perform once again. Still having bounce in your step and fuel in your tank goes quite far in a post-injury performance. The result is a more balanced athlete, especially throughout the training process. Small gains have a deeper value, and the joy of swimming becomes the primary focus, as nothing is taken for granted. At the end of the day, trying to see this perspective may help to overcome the adversity you encounter when coping with an injury. Good luck and Happy Swimming, Jonathan Miller