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?
An example of my point is that if a person with the natural ability of a back-of-the-pack swimmer worked really hard and did everything right that they could, would it be possible for this said person to ever qualify for state?
Does talent determine most of your sucess in swimming, or can hard work ever overcome lack of talent?
Some people, for whatever reason, just take naturally to swimming. They have the right body proportions, and they feel the water and their own body position well, and they don't need instruction from others to figure out how to move efficiently and how small adjustments translate into big gains. Other people are not such naturals, but that doesn't mean they can't learn to swim efficiently. If you are one of this latter group, you and your coach probably need to pay closer attention to your technique. In this sense, "hard work" on technique can overcome "lack of talent."
Think about this analogy: One kid learns to read at age 3, having picked it up from being read to rather than from any formal instruction. By first grade that kid has read (although probably not really understood) the entire Harry Potter series. Another comes to first grade still unable to read. The late reader probably needs some careful instruction and drilling, but s/he almost certainly will learn to read. By adulthood, you probably wouldn't be able to tell who learned younger.
An example of my point is that if a person with the natural ability of a back-of-the-pack swimmer worked really hard and did everything right that they could, would it be possible for this said person to ever qualify for state?
Does talent determine most of your sucess in swimming, or can hard work ever overcome lack of talent?
Some people, for whatever reason, just take naturally to swimming. They have the right body proportions, and they feel the water and their own body position well, and they don't need instruction from others to figure out how to move efficiently and how small adjustments translate into big gains. Other people are not such naturals, but that doesn't mean they can't learn to swim efficiently. If you are one of this latter group, you and your coach probably need to pay closer attention to your technique. In this sense, "hard work" on technique can overcome "lack of talent."
Think about this analogy: One kid learns to read at age 3, having picked it up from being read to rather than from any formal instruction. By first grade that kid has read (although probably not really understood) the entire Harry Potter series. Another comes to first grade still unable to read. The late reader probably needs some careful instruction and drilling, but s/he almost certainly will learn to read. By adulthood, you probably wouldn't be able to tell who learned younger.
