10 Things Divers Have To Be Thankful For

Photo Courtesy: Yura Bryant

By Erin Keaveny, Swimming Wold Contributor.

Thanksgiving is a time of year for reflecting on what we’re grateful for. There are plenty of things that we often take for granted, but deserve to be recognized for making our everyday lives a little better. This year, divers have a lot to be thankful for.

1. Sammies

The sammy, or shammy, is named after its inventor, the first Asian-American Olympic Gold medalist from the United States, Sammy Lee. Inventing the Shammy is probably one of the less interesting thing Lee did. He was a two time Olympic Gold medalist, a practicing doctor, and coach to some of the USA’s greatest divers, including Greg Louganis and Pat McCormick.

It wasn’t too long ago that divers didn’t have the comfort and convenience of a Sammy during meets and practice. In fact, most divers today would feel lost without their faithful little towel.

2. Warm Pools and Hot Tubs

Diving into a cold pool with a draft, or in an outdoor facility when it’s cold outside is a terrible feeling. Nothing makes a practice miserable quite like freezing temperatures.

When practice is cold, a warm hot tub is a life savior. A warm pool and a warm hot tub is a blessing.

Photo Courtesy: Brian Jenkins – UVM Athletics

3. Good Boards

Traveling to compete at a pool you’ve never been to can be nerve-wracking for many reasons, but stiff boards might be at the top of that list.

Some boards are too stiff, some are too loose, but those boards that are just right are unparalleled. The boards that leave you with a smooth ride and a high take off make diving so much more enjoyable.

4. Trampolines

Bouncing up and down on a trampoline is reminiscent of childhood joys, and can be much more exciting with a little diving training under your belt.

Trampolines can be a fun break from training on the boards, can help with flipping and spotting techniques, and they’re fun. What more could you ask for.

5. Belts

Learning new dives can be scary. Belts, whether they’re over the pool or a dry board make getting the feel for a new dive much easier, and finding the bottom of a new dive a lot less scary.

Belts can also be fun for trying things you would never be able to do otherwise. Front quad on trampoline? Sure, why not.

6. Bubbles

Speaking of learning new things, bubbles also help to combat diver’s fears. When you’ve graduated from the belts, and are ready to throw that new dive off the boards, bubbles can ease your mind.

Bubbles can’t take away all the pain, but every diver would chose a flat smack into the bubbles over a still pool.

7. Get-a-Grip, TAC, Tuffskin

Slipping out of a dive is a terrible feeling. Luckily, someone decided that divers could use some sticky grip in order to hold onto their tucks.

8. Coaches

Where would any diver be without their coach? They teach us, push us, help us become better divers, and if you’re lucky, better people.

Many coaches go above and beyond their designated role. They care about their divers as athlete, and as young man and women. They’ll go out of their way to make the lives of their athletes a little better, and for that we’re thankful.

9. Parents

Even if they know absolutely nothing about diving, parents can be found supporting their divers at meets, feeding them, driving to practices, watching practices, buying suits and shammies, and funding the whole operation.

Parents support their divers no matter how they do in meets or practice, and through the hard times and the good times. They raised us, they support us, and we don’t know where we’d be without them.

Photo Courtesy: Stephen Carr

10. TEAMMATES

There’s nothing like your teammates to get you through a hard practice and celebrate your victories with you. Teammates who become family are an absolute treasure. If you’re lucky those teammates will be in your life long after the end of you’re diving career.

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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OtterSwimer

5 years ago

Feeling thankful with the new brand created for swimmers .. enjoy the holiday people!! ?‍♂️?‍♂️?‍♂️ #usaswimming #canadaswimming #swimming #ilovetoswim #otterswimer