When you're young you want to try everything. Whether it be gymnastics, dance, horseback riding, soccer or basketball, most find a sport that sticks and stays with them as they go throughout life. Swimming was that sport for me. To all you swimmers out there, you know that even though you love the sport, there were definitely some ups and downs contributing to your love/hate relationship.
First comes the endless hours spent in the pool. No matter if you shower, the stench of chlorine is now absorbed into your skin, making you smell like the pool at all times. It is impossible to escape, but secretly you love the smell because the pool has become your second home.
Second comes morning practice. This is probably the most unenjoyable part of being a swimmer. If you're not a morning person, waking up at 5 a.m. to go and jump in a freezing cold pool for a couple hours before school is not the ideal way to spend your mornings. Why go to practice when you could spend that time getting much-needed sleep? Even though it may suck, you know that those extra hours will pay off in the long run. Plus, you get to eat breakfast with the team afterward!
Third, and probably the most important thing that contributed to the love part of my relationship with swimming, is the friendships I made. Like any sport, your team becomes your family. You spend a majority of your days with these people, hardly ever getting a break. You begin to see them more than you see your own family. They know your struggles with waking up or trying to beat a certain time. They are there to cheer you on as you race. They can pick you up when you're down. Everyone has that special connection of being brought together by a sport. No one else knows how you're feeling after a long day of practice. They're always there for you because they know exactly what you're going through.
With any sport, commitment is key if you want to be successful. Swimming is no exception. In fact, it probably takes even more commitment than most sports because it is such a rigorous activity. If you're not swimming laps in the pool, you're running or lifting to try and get stronger. There is nothing more heartbreaking than missing your goal time by less than a second. Every day is spent working to get better. There truly isn't another sport like swimming. It is with you through the worst and best times, and it helps you gain lifelong friendships.
I would like to say a thank you to the sport that raised me. Now that I'm out of the pool, I truly appreciate everything that swimming did for me. I learned discipline, what it takes to get better and how my swimming friends became some of the best friends I could have ever asked for. I'd like to thank the coaches and teammates that pushed me to get better. Without you, I don't know if I would have the motivation to try and be better at everything that I do.
Even though at the time swimming was the bane of my existence, it was an amazing experience that I am truly grateful for. It is the sport that raised me to be the person I am today.
