The Sprinter’s Dilemma: How to Get into “That Mindset”

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

By Jacob Riley, Swimming World College Intern.

Everyone knows who the sprinters are at swim meets. They’re usually stereotyped to be tall and beefy guys, and very muscular girls. They usually walk around with a certain swagger that they need to be successful in their event. This swagger is half of what makes them a sprinter. They are half speed, half swagger. There are a few ways to get into that mindset.

Great sprinters often have a certain natural instinct in the water. You need to be able to dive into the water without worrying about making a major mistake, like missing a turn, or messing up your turnover rate.

Sprint events are not designed for thinking. They’re designed for going as fast as possible. Do all of your thinking about your race before you dive in, and in the weeks you spend prepping for your swims.

“Be an animal, go as fast as you can and just be an animal in the water.” I heard this when I was twelve, listening intently to the coach talking to his swimmer in the lane next to me before our championship heat of the 50 free. Ironically, I beat the swimmer he said this to, but it has stuck with me. Being an animal in the water goes along with the idea of “not thinking, just doing” during the race. Animals do not lose in all out sprints (except for the kid next to me when I was twelve), and understanding this fact is half of the battle.

Part of being a sprinter is believing that you’re going to beat the person in the lane next to you. This belief is crucial to having the confidence needed to have a good race. After each sprinter in question understands this, they will usually bring out an intimidation method known as “the slap.” This is where the sprinter will slap themselves very loudly all over their body to try and intimidate whoever is next to them… All joking aside, “the slap” can help activate muscles to fire very quickly, and I would recommend for anyone to try before a race.

The final piece to this sprinter mindset is to have fun. Having fun is presumably a part of why we sprint. We like to see if we can be faster than the person next to us. If you can have fun while racing others, you will be a successful sprinter.

All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

Name*

Email*

10 Comments

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

7 years ago

1. Be 6’5″, 190 lbs, age 23
2. Go

Sebastian Vielma

7 years ago

Ricardo Román Jiménez

Mikaela Callinan

7 years ago

Belinda Stephens

Cedric Chan

7 years ago

Vladimir Pan thats why you are a good sprinter hahahahahha

Joel Wilson

7 years ago

Reply to Cedric Chan

How to swim a fast 50:
1. Skip training all week
2. Stay up late the night before watching telly
3. Eat nothing all day, then shovel down snacks on the way to the pool
4. Lie back on your roller for half an hour chatting, swing your arms a bit
5. Warmup: 150m slow freestyle, 2 starts, hot shower
6. Nearly miss the race getting your suit on
7. Swim to the other end of the pool
Guaranteed PB

Vladimir Pan

7 years ago

Reply to Cedric Chan

or just be Joel Wilson haha

Joel Wilson

7 years ago

Reply to Cedric Chan

Or do the Daniel St George: Train for 200 fly and 10k OW all year, swim a 23s 50 free

Dana Barbin Hamm

7 years ago

Sydney Fisher

Sara Shumar Timken

7 years ago

Parker Elle, this is you!!

Patty

7 years ago

Hi to every , because I am actually keen of reading this webpage’s post to be updated regularly.
It includes nice stuff.