Distance Swimming Growth Makes the Laps Less Lonely

Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

By Erin Himes, Swimming World College Intern

Any distance swimmer knows the scene well: the pool deck clears out at the end of a morning session, swimmers shower, grab their stuff, and head back to their hotels for their pre-finals nap. For most, the meet has ended for now, but for us, it hasn’t even begun. The distance session is commencing, and we are all very much alone.

Lonely Laps

Photo Courtesy: Brian Jenkins-UVM Athletics

Distance swimming is undeniably lonely. Middle-of-the-day distance sessions force bonding with the few other distance kids on your club team. Training involves a lot more time with your face in the water than it does for your sprinter counterparts, and it is pretty evident that watching your 1650 isn’t at the top of everyone’s list of events they want to watch start to finish. Distance swimming has never been the most fun, but there’s something uniquely gratifying about touching the wall after 66 laps and knowing all the hard work was worth it. I’ve never felt satisfaction as strong in any other event.

Recruitment Troubles

Photo Courtesy: Erin Himes

To the average onlooker, however, distance swimming is less than exciting. In fact, while watching Olympic Trials, I heard a sad truth repeated yet again, that distance swimmers have a much harder time getting recruited by schools, mainly because our events do not appear on relays. It makes sense, from the perspective of scoring points, but only adds to that sense of loneliness and boring associated with long races, making distance swimming yet again undesirable to any age group swimmer. Realizing that distance swimming might be for you can feel like a disappointment, especially at a younger age.

The Rise of Katie Ledecky

Photo Courtesy: Annie Grevers

In 2012, however, distance swimming in the U.S. began getting attention again, through the breakout of Katie Ledecky. As a spectator at the London Games, I entered the Aquatic Centre most excited about watching Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin whip out quick morning swims in the 100 fly and the 200 back, respectively. Even as a distance swimmer, I was embarrassingly not the most excited to sit through heats of the 800 free. But what I witnessed that morning changed my mind, and went on to change others as well.

I had watched Katie Ledecky race at trials, but didn’t know what to expect from a new name. I was quickly in awe as she raced to her third place finish in prelims. As she swam, I could feel the excitement of the other Americans in the stands. My mom sat in the row in front of her mom, who was taking down her splits and hoping she would make the final. That statement seems absurd now, as she would famously go on to win gold and dethrone the world record-holder at the time, Rebecca Adlington, in the final of the event.

Distance Growth in the U.S.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Katie Ledecky has shifted the eyes of U.S. swim fans and even non-swimmers on to distance swimming with her increased dominance over the past four years. While representing our country well, she is growing what is a lonely discipline in our sport, making it slightly cooler to call the distance group your home.

Heading into Rio, distance swimming is looking promising for the United States on the world stage. Ledecky has taken over the all-time top times in the 800 over the past four years. Leah Smith posted the third best time in the world this year in the 800 free in Omaha. Additionally, the fourth and sixth best times in the men’s 1500 this year were posted at Olympic Trials by Connor Jaeger and Jordan Wilimovsky, respectively. Both men’s and women’s distance swimming should be promising areas for the United States at these Olympics.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

What happens in Rio will have an undeniable impact on swimmers at all levels. As TV stations avoid cutting to commercial during the 800 free in fear of missing Katie Ledecky chasing the world record line, distance swimming will finally gain the excitement that it needs to no longer be an age group swimmer’s worst nightmare, but their newest goal. With distance swimming growth will come increased interest at all levels, making those lonely distance sessions refreshingly fun.

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JAP

7 years ago

Distance swimmers’ parents also have a common bond with each other. Parents on deck during the age group distance events play an integral role- as we all have the necessary jobs of either counting or timing. We parents are also a special breed. 🙂 BTW I, too, get irritated when they go to commercial breaks during the 800 and 1500. Every lap counts that is why they are swum!