10 Reasons to Marry a Swimmer

Ryan Murphy and Bridget Konttinen

10 Reasons to Marry a Swimmer

By Ailish Dougherty (Swimming World Archive)

While every swimmer certainly has their own individual personalities, there are a few characteristics unique to competitive swimmers that have the potential to make them great spouses.

Thus, here are a few reasons why it might be wonderful to spend the rest of your life with a swimmer…

1. They have great bodies.

Usually tall, lean (but not too lean), with strong shoulders and insanely defined six-packs, swimmers have some of the most attractive, fit physiques of all athletes. Swimmers are also very vigilant about their physical fitness, so they won’t let their toned figures disappear in retirement.

michael-phelps-

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

2. They’re confident.

Let alone having to parade their scantily-clad bodies around in front of hundreds of people at swim meets and even on television, swimmers must be mentally confident and self-assured in order to perform to the best of their ability. Great swimmers don’t let doubts and fears affect their performance, and in the same vein, they won’t let jealousy or mistrust get in the way of their relationships.

3. They have gratitude. 

Swimmers have surely been humbled at some point by a setback that they have had to overcome, and it has only made them realize how lucky they are to be able to participate in the sport that they love. They give credit where credit is due– to their coaches, parents, and teammates who have helped them succeed. They will never take their spouse for granted.

4. They’re smart!

Swimming is one of the smartest sports out there. Swimmers consistently have high graduation rates and GPAs, and a recent survey of Division I programs showed that nearly 40 percent of all female and nearly one-third of male swimmers and divers pursue degrees in STEM fields. Hard work in the pool translates to hard work in the classroom, and hard work in the classroom often translates to success in the job field.

maya-dirado-

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

5. They aren’t quitters.

In order to succeed in swimming, an athlete must be goal-oriented and focused, and they mustn’t let hurdles and frustrations discourage them to the point of giving up. Swimmers have the ability to push past any adversity – be it an injury, a missed cut, a bad time, or personal setbacks – and keep pushing to succeed. Swimmers won’t give up on a relationship just because of a little spat. You can count on them to put in the time and effort to make compromises and work out a solution.

6. They’re committed to personal excellence.

I wouldn’t go as far as to call them perfectionists exactly, but swimmers certainly strive to be the best that they can be in each and every one of their endeavors.

7. They’re always up for a quiet night in.

Swimmers are certainly familiar with making sacrifices, such as missing a fun night out for a good night’s sleep. They know exactly when they need to do what’s best for themselves and spend a night at home curled up with a book or a great movie, and they will have no problem sharing it with a partner.

8. They can accept constructive criticism. 

Years spent listening to coaches and parents nagging them about stroke technique conditions swimmers to have respect for authority and to be able to take suggestions and advice with gratitude and humility. They don’t offer excuses, they offer solutions. Swimmers are always open and willing to change and improve.

9. They’re hard-working. 

Swimmers are the opposite of lazy. If they are able to wake up at 5 a.m. for a morning practice, they can make it through a dinner with their in-laws. Focused, dedicated, and disciplined, swimmers have the capacity to be fantastic husbands and wives, and even better parents.

10. They’re supportive. 

Being a part of a swim team for years instills in swimmers a sense of community and pride in their team. They would do anything to support their fellow teammates, because they see them as family. Imagine how devoted and loyal they would be to their real family!

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

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214 Comments
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Allie Rose
7 years ago

Love this!!

Avnish Thapa
7 years ago

Damm right..

Elaine Coffey
7 years ago

Grant Coffey this is SO me!!

Briony Daye
7 years ago
Reply to  Elaine Coffey

So true – Hubby needs to read this!x

Ce Cil
7 years ago

Joe Lumbang Jacob Matthew

Tim Tully
7 years ago

Melissa Johnson

Melissa Johnson
7 years ago
Reply to  Tim Tully

We should get married. lol

Tim Tully
7 years ago
Reply to  Tim Tully

Samuel Määs ?

Karney McNear
7 years ago

Jana McNear Neuschaefer

Miguel Arteaga
7 years ago

Vely MRuiz

Donielle Derington Underwood

Madison Underwood swimming can even help ur future marriage

Barry Jr McClements
7 years ago

Megan maybe not the smart part

Greg Tschabuschnig Jackson

Cooper, what do you say? ?

Cooper Robinson
7 years ago

Oh my gosh so soon Greg! How can I resist? ??

Greg Tschabuschnig Jackson

??? you killed me!

Karen Shaw
7 years ago

9 and 10 yes. Think we will skip the rest !!! Hehehe

Harriet Lee
7 years ago

On to a winner the Laurie ‘swedish’ Pirie !! Remember that lol x

Ali Zughrat
7 years ago

Damm right. love this

Ann Ellsworth Guins
7 years ago

All true

Inssaf Ri
7 years ago

Kenza Ell db hnaya hakka ?

Kenza Ell
7 years ago
Reply to  Inssaf Ri

????????

Tyrine De Kort
7 years ago

Kristel Browne wat do you say ?

Nick Furneaux
7 years ago

Helen Andrews number 1 is me

Helen Andrews
7 years ago
Reply to  Nick Furneaux

I’m not convinced you and David Andrews were swimmers! x

David Andrews
7 years ago
Reply to  Nick Furneaux

Time takes its toll unfortunately

Carole Tahtah Haidar
7 years ago

Adam Fakih Mohamad Haidar ???

Brooke Pike
7 years ago

Justin Pike ❤️

Catherine Pyle
7 years ago

Brad McGhee Spencer Mendez Emma Bickhart

Emma Bickhart
7 years ago
Reply to  Catherine Pyle

accurate

Amal Fawzy
7 years ago

Salma Mohamed

Andrei Olaru
7 years ago

Alexandra Stroe

Alexandra Stroe
7 years ago
Reply to  Andrei Olaru

Te iubesc

Meghan O'Day Roy
7 years ago

Mike Roy

Susan L. Lansbury
7 years ago

i would add that they never smell bad, always clean!

Jenni Wloka
7 years ago

not true.chlorine. but you’ll get used to it. 😉

Susan L. Lansbury
7 years ago

Jenni Wloka chlorine smell is pleasant compared to the alternative?

Alyssa Christianson
7 years ago

Mark Beshoar I agree with most of these

Mark Beshoar
7 years ago

Well I agree with all of them!

Mark Beshoar
7 years ago

But this is so good

Stephan Fandel
7 years ago

Hannes Frank, Ro Man, wir sind schon geile Typen 😛

Hannes Frank
7 years ago
Reply to  Stephan Fandel

Puh ich dachte schon du schreibst was anderes???

Stephan Fandel
7 years ago
Reply to  Stephan Fandel

Was hätte ich denn sonst schreiben sollen? 😀

Hannes Frank
7 years ago
Reply to  Stephan Fandel

Dir fällt sonst auch immer was Fieses ein?

Stephan Fandel
7 years ago
Reply to  Stephan Fandel

Das halte ich für ein Gerücht 😀 aber mir gefällt der Artikel und da ist viel Wahrheit dabei 🙂

Hannes Frank
7 years ago
Reply to  Stephan Fandel

Als würde ich Gerüchte verbreiten??ja trifft schon sehr gut zu der Artikel

Ro Man
7 years ago
Reply to  Stephan Fandel

Nur nachts schlafe ich nicht sondern esse ?

Lisa Propson
7 years ago
Reply to  Stephan Fandel

???? hier stinkt es grade so richtig nach Arroganten Menschen ???? und übrigens auf die Figur achten und “smart” sein trifft aber nicht auf meinen Mann zu!!!!!

Hannes Frank
7 years ago
Reply to  Stephan Fandel

Wenn Fußballer das täglich in allen Medien machen, dürfen wir das hier im kleinen Kreis doch auch mal? die haben in dem Artikel vergessen, dass das mit dem auf die Figur achten hauptsächlich für Singleschwimmer gilt ? ?

Ro Man
7 years ago
Reply to  Stephan Fandel

Außerdem achte ich auf meine Figur ich esse nur mehr ?

Stephan Fandel
7 years ago
Reply to  Stephan Fandel

Den ganzen Tag wie ein Staubsauger 😀

Susan L. Lansbury
7 years ago

Alice O’Leary McClenahan David Schraven Julie Lerner Nations Debbie K Jaeger Nancy Fee Hummer Ariel Lotz Miryam Lissette Bohabot-Firtag☺️?

Ariel Lotz
7 years ago

Yep
Miss you guys and gals A Lotz!

Steve Oltzscher
7 years ago

Francesca gib zu dass du diesen Artikel geschrieben hast ?

Francesca Walmsley
7 years ago

Eher du

Jana Mastilovic
7 years ago

Mina Mastilovic evo ti tema

Mike Dale
7 years ago

Deana Welch and Kristi Sytsma Sherman hit the jackpot.

Kristi Sytsma Sherman
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike Dale

Don’t know how we got so lucky.

Deana Welch
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike Dale

There are so many adjectives to describe this jackpot you mention, Mike.

I’m guessing this article was written by a swimmer. Kristi, we should write our own article.

Kristi Sytsma Sherman
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike Dale

Deana, there is not enough paper or ink?

Emily Aust
7 years ago

Matthew Crackell it is a win win ?

Nidhi Dookhit
7 years ago

Nadeem Loulou
Haha see see

Nadeem Loulou
7 years ago
Reply to  Nidhi Dookhit

???

Lotte Goosen
7 years ago

Arjan van der Plaat ❤️??

Sammie Lucie-Smith
7 years ago

John Gatfield ?

Steve Kent
7 years ago

Madison Reid

Jeff Lawhorn
7 years ago

Jennifer Lawhorn ?

Vicki Props Lawhorn
7 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Lawhorn

Hahaha. I was going to send it to you both.

Vivien Tosches
7 years ago

Celeste Römer

Celeste Römer
7 years ago
Reply to  Vivien Tosches

I dont even need one ?

Vivien Tosches
7 years ago
Reply to  Vivien Tosches

Celeste Römer …true… I need FOUR of them!!!

Samara VanBlaricom
7 years ago

Christopher Francis Lee ?

Virginie Brillouet
7 years ago

Sébastien

Yousif Al Shamy
7 years ago

Leena Sallam

Carolyn Rios
7 years ago

Josue M. Hernandez thats why!??? love you my swimmer.

Paula Alyson Phillpott

And if you are lucky enough to marry a water polo player you get all that in spades but he’ll be poor as a church mouse!

Jenny Snedden
7 years ago

Especially in Scotland!

Paula Alyson Phillpott

My son played polo from age 11 for 26 years. We lived on the south coast of Scotland of England and all the good polo was London, Midlands and the North. National League cost us a fortune! Wouldn’t change a day of it.

Paula Alyson Phillpott

Sorry, should say South coast of England. Respects to the Scots, you must find the same with travelling.

June Martorelli
7 years ago

Okay kids your cool

Alexandra Froissart
7 years ago

Noémi, on sait ce qui nous reste à faire ?

Noémi Girardet
7 years ago

Alors la c’est clair! 😉 hahaha

Julian Paris
7 years ago

Le brouillard se dissipe

Noémi Girardet
7 years ago

Julian ou pas… c’est pas simple hahah

MouȜad Lalmy
7 years ago

Yasmine… mdrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Itzia Arriaga
7 years ago

Leelo Paul Medina !!!

Jason Walsh
7 years ago

Justine Bowler aw how sweet he is

Justine Bowler
7 years ago
Reply to  Jason Walsh

Damn Jason why do you think I swim?☺️☺️??

Elisa Marani
7 years ago

Federico Moscato ???

Kimberly Kuehl
7 years ago

Louis Gouletas ??

Reghan Heiner
7 years ago

Ed Heiner

Sarah Eplett
7 years ago

Shannon Christiansen

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