have been swimming year round since I was eight years old. I am now going to be a sophmore in college. I have lived and breathed swimming since I first started. My life revolved around swimming and only that. Through high school I gave up hanging with friends to go to swim practice. I never really was a great swimmer even though I worked super hard to be succesful. I did swim one year in college. I am completely burnt out and cant stand to go to swim meets and not be able to swim the times I did when I was 13-15. now 20. It kills me and after my freshman year and this summer I have made the decision to call it quits because I 'cant put my self through all this hard work to not see results and swimming just dosent make me happy. Am i making a huge mistake and what happens say a year from now when i miss swimming greatly? will it all be ok then? I was so sure on my decision but when other people dont support me like coaches and parents etc its hard. I just need some advice or encougagement!
thanks!
Parents
Former Member
I would encourage you to move on. In swimming, and most sports, the word "quit" is a dirty word. It shouldn't be that way. I quit swimming half way through my freshman year (at a division 1 school) and I don't regret that decision at all. Coaches and parents will try to dissuade you usually for selfish reasons, or tell you swimming is advantageous for your career (total BS). College swimming can be an incredibly stifling environment, and thats not what college is supposed to be about. You're supposed to be exposed to new things, meet different people, try new things. Swimming makes all that very difficult.
My experience: USS swimmer from age 7, sprinter, lots of potential, still improving when I got to college. Not a great swimmer, but pretty good-- made the consolation finals at Jr nats. I was burned out and done with the very structured life that swimming requires of you by the time I got to college. I quit and discovered a new major, made a new set of friends, got into cycling and backpacking, traveled and hiked all over the place, and have made a career out of my undergrad studies.
The great thing about swimming is that its a life-long sport. You can get back into it whenever you want. I've started swimming again 13 years after I quit, and its a lot of fun, and very healthy. I encourage you to do what you need to do and not be persuaded otherwise by people who care more about your swimming success than you as a whole person.
I would encourage you to move on. In swimming, and most sports, the word "quit" is a dirty word. It shouldn't be that way. I quit swimming half way through my freshman year (at a division 1 school) and I don't regret that decision at all. Coaches and parents will try to dissuade you usually for selfish reasons, or tell you swimming is advantageous for your career (total BS). College swimming can be an incredibly stifling environment, and thats not what college is supposed to be about. You're supposed to be exposed to new things, meet different people, try new things. Swimming makes all that very difficult.
My experience: USS swimmer from age 7, sprinter, lots of potential, still improving when I got to college. Not a great swimmer, but pretty good-- made the consolation finals at Jr nats. I was burned out and done with the very structured life that swimming requires of you by the time I got to college. I quit and discovered a new major, made a new set of friends, got into cycling and backpacking, traveled and hiked all over the place, and have made a career out of my undergrad studies.
The great thing about swimming is that its a life-long sport. You can get back into it whenever you want. I've started swimming again 13 years after I quit, and its a lot of fun, and very healthy. I encourage you to do what you need to do and not be persuaded otherwise by people who care more about your swimming success than you as a whole person.
