Behind the Goggles During Championship Season

Jul 14, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Michelle Williams of Canada adjusts her goggles before the women's 100m freestyle swimming preliminaries during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Pan Am Aquatics UTS Centre and Field House. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher/USA Today Sports Images

By Kate Smarjesse, Swimming World College Intern

As summer starts to wind down for most people, the swimming community’s most significant time of the year is just beginning– championship season. Most non-swimmers do not understand how important this time of year is for swimmers. We are emotionally unstable for the majority of July and August as we approach our big meets of the summer season.

The amount of preparation put into a two-minute race will never make sense to many people outside the swimming world because “it’s a swimming thing.” We spend six months and countless hours working on our technique, pace, and speed for our two-minute race. Not many other athletes have the challenge that swimmers have while competing. There is no time out or redo; we have one shot to get everything right and accomplish our whole season goal within those two minutes.

Photo Courtesy: Robin Sparf

There is more than just our training that goes into our race– a large component of our races are all mental. Our mind plays games on us. Whether it is making us think that our competition already has the race in the bag or that remembering we have forgotten to work on something behind the blocks, second guessing yourself and your training can cost you your race.

Meditating is a common solution to ensure that a swimmer is confident and ready to race before the meet. Although it may sound silly to many people, it works. Imagining the perfect race and finishing and seeing your goal time, your teammates cheering for you and your family even more excited than you are, helps make your goals seem feasible. Having this mental image can allow you an extra sense of security going into your race.

Jun 20, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Michael Phelps prepares for the finals of the Men's 200M Butterfly in evening session of Day 3 at the George F. Haines International Swim Center in Santa Clara, Calif. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Robert Stanton/USA Today Sports Images

The biggest shift at a championship meet is the atmosphere. Whether you are swimming in a local summer meet or in the Olympics, the atmosphere of the pool can make or break your race. Having a loud, packed and excited crowd filling the stands rouses extra adrenaline in us. Standing behind the blocks is nerve-racking no matter what, but hearing the loud roar of people cheering through our cap brings about an inexplicable thrill.

Photo Courtesy: Jessica Drogemuller

The swimming world is difficult for many non-swimmers to understand. The bond swimmers share is rare and the sacrifices we’re willing to make seem ludicrous to most. A lot goes into championship season for swimmers and although it still may not make sense why we spend $400 plus for a skin-tight, paper-thin, uncomfortable swimsuit, this is the best time of the year for swimmers all over the world. We finally get to see our hard work pay off. Even if we only get two minutes in the limelight.

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