I have a question about why so many people on my swim team are so much faster than me. I have been on a year round swim team for over a year, and have been swimming competitively for about 4 years.
I am still always the slowest on my team, and I get lapped so many times during practice. It is so frustrating! I go to practice almost every day, and work just as hard as them.
Are some people just born fast vs. slow in swimming and there is nothing you can do to change your natural speed? Is speed something you can achieve with hard work?
Why is everyone so much faster than me? What can I do to become fast like them?
Amy,
I think hard work, technique, and motivation will generally will get someone to state even when they don't have a lot in the way of physical talent. I would say that you have to dedicate yourself to swimming more than your many of your teammates to catch or surpass them. That dedication may be building strength outside the pool, spending extra time with your coaches on technique (or videos, drills, reading, clinics, etc.), putting in extra time on starts and turns on your own, goal setting, etc. You need to think about your weaknesses, identify them (on your own or with help from others), and then develop and dedicate yourself to a plan to improve.
I have seen many swimmers overcome all kinds of physical short-comings (lack of physical strength, lack of height, too heavy, coordination, lack of feel for the water, etc.) and generally all those things can be overcome with the proper plan and dedication. I always liked starting with a new team/lane and finding myself starting last on sets and slowly catching the people in front over time. Try to chase down the bubbles in front of you every set and when you aren't swimming think about what you need to do next time to close the gap on the bubbles more next time. Before you know it you will be touching the feet of the less dedicated and you will be on your way.
Physical talent is a great thing and certainly makes it easier at any level of swimming, but it is not necessary to reach state qualifying times in my opinion. There are also many people that swim at a national level that are not physically gifted, but they are highly motivated.
Good luck with making your state times,
Tim
Amy,
I think hard work, technique, and motivation will generally will get someone to state even when they don't have a lot in the way of physical talent. I would say that you have to dedicate yourself to swimming more than your many of your teammates to catch or surpass them. That dedication may be building strength outside the pool, spending extra time with your coaches on technique (or videos, drills, reading, clinics, etc.), putting in extra time on starts and turns on your own, goal setting, etc. You need to think about your weaknesses, identify them (on your own or with help from others), and then develop and dedicate yourself to a plan to improve.
I have seen many swimmers overcome all kinds of physical short-comings (lack of physical strength, lack of height, too heavy, coordination, lack of feel for the water, etc.) and generally all those things can be overcome with the proper plan and dedication. I always liked starting with a new team/lane and finding myself starting last on sets and slowly catching the people in front over time. Try to chase down the bubbles in front of you every set and when you aren't swimming think about what you need to do next time to close the gap on the bubbles more next time. Before you know it you will be touching the feet of the less dedicated and you will be on your way.
Physical talent is a great thing and certainly makes it easier at any level of swimming, but it is not necessary to reach state qualifying times in my opinion. There are also many people that swim at a national level that are not physically gifted, but they are highly motivated.
Good luck with making your state times,
Tim
