Lucas Draper - (Author)

10 Ways to Easily Spot a Swimmer As swimmers, we all know we have some defining traits. From the wet hair to the smell of chlorine, here are some surefire ways to spot a swimmer out in the wild. 1. Eau de Chlorine We all know this one. As athletes, we spend WAY too much time in the water, and we beg...

Being a Transgender Athlete in the Swimming World By Tara Draper - Swimming World College Intern Recently, I had a friend - who is not an athlete - come out as transgender. She has had many battles regarding her identity and has slowly started transitioning. Her transition led me to t...

While Battling a Chronic Illness, Zach Barber Emerged As An Inspiration By Lucas Draper, Swimming World Intern Zach Barber is a man with an interesting story. At age 12, he received the news that he had an incurable chronic illness. His diagnosis, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, meant he spent eight years...

The Permanent Effects of COVID-19 on Swimming By Tara Draper - Swimming World College Intern COVID-19 has had a lasting effect on so many areas of our lives, from school to grocery shopping. Many sports have had to completely stop operating or change the way they operate due to the pandemic. Luckily...

6 Games To Make Swim Practice Fun By Tara Draper, Swimming World Intern Before I start this article, I want to preface this by saying that I know sports and swim practice, especially at a competitive level, aren’t meant to be fun and games all the time. We work hard every day, striving to improve al...

6 Thoughts That Go Through the Mind of an Anxious Swimmer By Tara Draper, Swimming World College Intern As an athlete who has battled anxiety for most of my life, receiving an official diagnosis was a relief. It allowed me to understand why my brain works the way it does and find ways to change my t...

COVID-19 Destruction: The Devastating Effects of Coronavirus on Swim and Dive Programs COVID-19 has had many devastating effects in the swimming world, one of which is the cuts to swim and dive programs across the U.S. collegiate system. So far, 11 programs have been cut, with one program, William a...

From Swimmer To Swiver: An Interesting Transition By Tara Draper, Swimming World Intern Although classified together, the worlds of swimming and diving are vastly different. Swimming is all about power and speed, trying to out-touch your opponent by the smallest of margins to finish first. Diving is...

A Personal Look at the Differences Between American and Australian College Swimming By Tara Draper, Swimming World Intern College swimming is a breed unlike all others. It's such a different environment from Australian swimming, and I was often very confused by the entire concept. Traveling over to ...