Every swimmer knows that their sport comes with many struggles. Everyone may think that swimming is just splashing and blowing bubbles, but it's much, much more than that. Here are the struggles as told by gifs.
Getting in the water is the worst...
Every swimmer knows that the first jump in the water feels like you're jumping into an ice bath. The cold water is never fun.
...But once you're in, you never want to leave.
It's even harder to get out of the water once you're in it. The pool finally gets warm when you need to leave, and walking out is like walking through the arctic.
Having to get up for 6 a.m. practice.
Waking up and getting out of bed at 5:45 is never any fun, especially when you have a full day ahead of you. Five more minutes (hours), please.
Walking through the tundra to get to practice.
Winter is peak season for swimmers. It's also peak season for the cold. Grab your coats and parkas!
There's never a time when you're full.
Good thing that we burn hundreds of calories at practice, or we'd be in trouble. Swimmers know that they are forever hungry.
Forever praying for thunder, but realizing it rarely happens.
Every swimmer knows that thunderstorms get you out of the pool, even if it's for a couple minutes. Then you realize it never thunderstorms in the winter. Ever.
When coach says you have a butterfly set.
The worst thing you can possibly hear during practice. God save me (and my shoulders).
"Work your underwaters, streamlines and breath control."
We all know that not being able to take that splendid breath of the wall sucks, but it will make us that much better in the long run. Just suck it up and push through it. Plus, it will make your coach happy.
"Sorry, I can't, I have practice/a meet."
Want to go to the movies with your friends? Nope. Play some video games with friends after school? Nuh-uh . Party on the weekend? Nah, sorry. I have swimming.
"Did you win your meet? Are you going to the Olympics? Are you fast?"
Just stop yourself right there. Nothing gets a swimmer more angry than hearing this set of questions. Just ask how I swam, please.
Having to do dry land workouts.
Coach, there is a reason why I chose to become a swimmer, and that is because I can't run, jump, or do anything that requires me to balance. How do you expect me to do dry land? The world may never know.
When your competition has a better race than you.
Nothing is worse than seeing someone you constantly race against do better than you. Just let it motivate you and work even harder.
Even though you say you hate swimming, you'll always love it and keep finding yourself going back for more.
You complain and moan about going to pracitce and having meets, but deep down you have a true love for the sport and you wouldn't want to do anything else. Swimming is a lifestyle and you're lucky to be a part of it.
