Swim Life

5 Skills that Benefit Swimmers in the Workplace Although there are many skills swimmers develop in the pool that benefit them athletically, many of those lessons extend past the competition pool. From early-morning practices to long seasons of dedication to balancing academics, swimming instills hab...

Fear. One simple word, yet one of the most complex and personal emotions we experience. It shows up in obvious ways: Fear of snakes, fear of heights. But for athletes, it often runs much deeper. Fear of failure. Fear of judgment. Fear of what comes after the so-called failure, when the results are p...

5 Ways to Ensure Your Body is Rested While Traveling to Your Championship Meet Championship meet season is here! It's the time of year when excitement is high and all your hard work and training are behind you (for now). But traveling to a big meet—whether it’s across the country or just down the ro...

Motivational Monday: Positive Affirmations for Swimmers Breathe in, breathe out. The moment has arrived. All swimmers know the feeling of having a big race in front of them. You stand behind the blocks, anxiously adjusting your cap and goggles. You count down the heats in front of you until it’s fin...

11 Things Your Swimming Coach Is Always Yelling By Allison Peters, Swimming World College Intern We all know what it is like to have your swimming coaches yelling at the top of their lungs during practice, trying to get our attention. Here's a few things that you can improve on to reduce some of thi...

An Explanation Of How Tech Suits Benefit Swimmers When it comes time to race, many swimmers, especially those racing in high-level competitions, wear specialized knee-length swimsuits known as tech suits. They're everywhere in the swimming world. But how do tech suits work? And do they actually make...

10 Things 'Swammers' Miss About the Sport There’s something about swimming that never really leaves you. Even after the early mornings end and the goggles are packed away for good, the sport lingers in muscle memory, daily routines and nostalgia. For former swimmers or “swammers,” as some like to sa...

A Letter To My Club Coach  Dear Coach,  I used to think gratitude was something you expressed at the end, after the final practice, after the last meet, after the chapter was closed. But swimming doesn’t really work that way.  Neither does your impact.  You were there long before the success, long b...

The Pros and Cons of Being a Versatile Swimmer By Maggie Lasto Being a versatile swimmer is like being the jack of all trades. It means you are decent at everything but not necessarily great at anything. This experience resonates with many swimmers as they struggle with finding their true path. Lear...

In the midst of winter training, a time generally spent with hours of grueling work in the pool, there is often one highlight that helps pull a tired swimmer into the holiday spirit: training trips. For college swimmers, winter break is rarely a true vacation. Instead, it’s one of the more demanding...

Swimming fast requires intense physical and mental exertion, which is all the more reason for competitive swimmers to focus on what goes into their bodies. It’s no wonder then that providing your body with the proper nutrients it needs to perform, recover, and reset comes with a hefty reward. What t...

Swim & Tell: Introducing the ORCA Awards On Episode Six of the Swim & Tell podcast, host Sophia Knapp spoke with two leaders working to change the way we experience age-group swimming. Doug Fonder, President and CEO of the International Swim Coaches Association, and Lane One: Making Waves Podcast h....

Patrick Woepse Foundation Swim Honors Life of UCLA Water Polo Star By Alex Ellison On a cool August morning in Newport Beach, California, the local community gathered at the 34th Street Pier to take part in the first Patrick Woepse Foundation swim. The event followed Pat’s daily ritual: swimming fro...

Why is Yoga Beneficial for Swimmers? Bringing back this article by Kaylie Williams, a formerSwimming World College Intern.  You can do yoga at home! Don't need any fancy gear - just some sort of stretching mat or open space on the floor to get started.  Have you ever neglected the cool-down stretchi...

Goal Setting for Age-Group Swimmers in the New Year  The first practice of the New Year always feels a little different.  The pool deck maintains the same chlorinated smell. The water is just as freezing. The beep from the clock on the wall still seems louder than it should. But something about Janu...

Ryan Lochte Set to Appear on Next Season of 'Worst Cooks in America' Ryan Lochte is returning to the world of reality television, as the Food Network announced that the 12-time Olympic medalist will be part of the cast for the next season of "Worst Cooks in America." Lochte will be one of 10 contest...

Sports Illustrated Honors Michael Phelps With Muhammad Ali Legacy Award Nearly a decade after last competing on the international stage, Michael Phelps continues to make an impact. As an athlete, he provided inspiration to up-and-coming swimmers. These days, the Olympic legend is a leading advocate ...

What I Wish I'd Known As An Age Group Swimmer By Temarie Tomley After celebrating my recent birthday, I realized just how old I’ve gotten and how long I’ve been in this game. I’ve been swimming for 15 years, and in those 15 years I have learned so much. Everyone’s journey through this sport is diffe...

As swimmers, we can look for quick fixes. We know that we can adjust a flip turn here, tweak a breath there, and throw in a few extra dolphin kicks off of our start—and that could shave time off of even the shortest of races. However, we are not always eager to reach for the more long-term aids to o...

The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Swimmers, Coaches, and All Aquatic Athletes Throughout the season, we shared three Holiday Gift Guides highlighting some of our favorite products for the aquatics community. Now, we’ve compiled them into one master gift guide for anyone still looking to check off ...