Steve Ruiter - (Author)

A swimmer’s favorite words to hear from a coach are “Good job.” But nothing compares to hearing, “We are starting our taper.” That moment feels like the first breath after the final turn in a 200-meter backstroke. The grind of a swim season is hard, and swimmers feel it all year. The work is necessa...

From Tim Duncan to Joe Thomas: How the Pool Can Be an Athlete's Greatest Ally The pool does not care who you are. Whether All-Pro or All-American, the second you dive in, you can be humbled. The water has no favorites. In the pool, everyone is equal. It does not matter how tall you are or how much y...

When Pride Takes Over: The Relay Moments That Defined Generations Hundredths of a second. That is all it takes to turn belief into legend. Relays are the heartbeat of the sport—four athletes connected by trust, pressure, and pride. You are not just teammates. You are family. A family fueled by somet...

The Road to Pride: How to Survive a Swim Practice Most swimmers dread that first moment of hopping into the pool. It’s the start of another practice, and no matter how much someone loves the sport, there’s always that second of hesitation before diving in. You are warm, about to be cold. You are tir...

Beyond the First Second: Mastering the Underwater Start The first second of a race begins on the block, but it does not end there. It may start the race, but the following factors write the story. A clean entry can give a swimmer the lead, yet it is only one piece of the equation. A swimming race is...

Why the First Second of a Race Changed Forever Every swimming race is won or lost in four moments: the start, the stroke, the turn and the finish. In competitive swimming, every fraction of a second counts, but it all begins with the start. A race can be won or lost before a swimmer even enters the ...

A Look at the NIL Landscape in Swimming The NCAA approved Name, Image, and Likeness compensation in 2021, opening the door for collegiate athletes to earn money through endorsements and sponsorships. When it comes to NIL, football and basketball dominate the headlines. Swimming, on the other hand, d...