When a lot of people think about swimming, often the same things can spring to mind: Michael Phelps and the Olympics, days spent as a child going to swimming lessons, or having some fun with your friends in the water. Despite many people never returning to the pool once they learn how to swim, there are huge benefits to incorporating it into your exercise routine. There are three main reasons why I swim:
1. The health benefits
Swimming is statistically one of the best sports for your body. It is one of the most calorie consuming per time spent and has little to no impact on your joints, saving you from dodgy ankles and knees! One often overlooked aspect of swimming is the huge benefits it has for your mental health. All that solitary time in the pool, while maybe appearing mind-numbing at first, can be a fantastic time for you to empty out what's on your mind and organise your thoughts. Personally I have certainly benefited from this, especially around exam-time. I would encourage anyone who needs some time out to clear their head to hop into their local pool and swim a few lengths.
2. The Competitive aspect
Again, for most people this is not something that they get to experience first-hand. Like I mentioned above, Olympic swimming can often be the first thing you think of when it is mentioned. To be completely honest, I am an absolute klutz when it comes to GAA and football. As a result, I was delighted when I discovered I had a natural ability for swimming. A lot of my friends think I am the next Michael Phelps when (sadly) in reality there are many more people my age who could easily beat me in a race. Despite this, the competition circuit in swimming is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and keep you focused in your training. Being able to shave as little as 0.2 seconds off your personal best (which can be a very large difference in swimming) really does give a euphoric feeling. I know from experience that sometimes the best feeling in the world is just finishing that last length before looking up at the timing board to see youve made a new personal best. This for me is one of the main reasons why I love competitive swimming and for anyone that has a good ability for swimming I would entirely encourage them to pursue it.
3. The team spirit
Anyone who plays a team sport will know straight away what I mean when I say the support of your teammates can make or break a competition. When they're there, they give that moral support you need to break all your own records and achieve times you couldn't without them. Camaraderie is a huge aspect in swimming that leads to many strong team relationships and friendships being formed. The ability to walk into training and have so many people there who share the same passion as me is something that I look forward to every week. For me, this is the biggest reason why I would recommend swimming as a sport or as just a training exercise. Everyone needs friends, and those who share the same interests as you form often form the strongest bonds.
With all points made, I am aware that I have been very biased throughout this whole piece! It is very easy for me to say all this when I have the ability to swim well. Despite this, however, you don't need to be an Olympian to experience the many advantages that swimming has. Whether you can swim 1 length or 100, it is one of the best sports you can do.
Comments