The Things We Teach Swimmers

Excerpt by Georgia Tech's Chris DeSantis, originally posted on SwimmingWorld.TV

ATLANTA, Georgia, October 29. IF there is a defining mantra of our sport, it most certainly is one of hard work. Coaches across the country, with good reason, tell their swimmers that the path to success is on some level very simple: work hard and you will get what you deserve. It's a positive message. The satisfaction of emerging from arduous training better for it is perhaps the most satisfying thing about swimming.

Teachers deliver a similar diatribe. Work hard and you will get good grades, get into a good college and get a good job. On the surface, there is nothing wrong with either of these messages. Their intention is entirely positive, to encourage people to make the best of what they have.

There is, however, a problem. I got my introduction to it in a rather incidental way. As many of my loyal blog readers know, I spent last year getting a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology. A year ago nearly to the date I met an alumnus of the program, Christine Duvivier, who happened to be a parent of high school kids in my hometown. This is relevant for one reason.

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