Swimming. To a non-swimmer the sport may seem so simple and pointless. Everyone watched Michael Phelps’ gold rush in Beijing this past summer, but no one but fellow swimmer understand the true beauty and harshness that put forth the world’s most gifted athlete.

Swimming is a life long sport. I recall hearing an interview at the Master Olympics of two 90 year old man talk about how they have been swimming since the 30’s only ceasing during WWII

Look at sports that are rough; take football for example. They go through strenuous and grueling exercises almost daily, breaking during off season which could be nearly 5-6 months, and usually in football practices only certain muscle groups are able to be used. Swimming is an all over sport that uses all your body in hardcore ways delivering pain on every square inch of your body, twice maybe even three times a day with a measly four week break the entire year. No other sport does that.

Through swimming I have made life long friendships. I sweat and die with my teammates, they are people I would jump in front of a car for. On swimmer’s myspace pages I can guarantee most of the “Top friends” fellow swimmers.

No other sport allows you to be more connected with your coach. He watches you die, he realizes the pain your going through but yet continues to push you harder and harder. I have learned from experience that my coaches are my role models and my mentors. I can go to either of them and talk to them about anything.

No other sport matches swimming in toughness. It teaches life lessons like goal setting at the beginning of every season to work ethic we need to strive for our goals through tremendous amounts of pain.

And on the last note, no sport requires more dedication then swimming. You miss one day it takes 2 days to ge back where you were. Swimming keeps life interesting.

The quotes I live my life through and through is:

“Success is sweeter, when the work is harder”

“The more you sweta in practice, the less you bleed in battle”

“Pain is only temporary, but the pride lasts forever”