Sink or swim: A tale of swimmer’s return to the water
by Sarah Slavin
In third grade, goggles replaced cleats and the pool became my second home. I was never an amazing swimmer, nor was I breaking records at every meet, but I loved it. Michael Phelps had won eight gold medals in one Olympics. I was going to win at least that many ribbons at memorial pool.
My career lasted six years, ending the summer after eighth grade. I had planned on trying out for the high school team, but I was already playing a fall and spring sport, so I figured doing a sport every season would be too hectic. It was saddening to me, but I wasn’t incredibly upset considering I was never that good of a swimmer. As I grew up, my love for the sport began to die.
As high school went on I continued with other sports and joined extracurriculars that kept me busy. However, when I discovered I had plantar fasciitis — the inflammation of the thick band of tissue (plantar fascia) that connects the heel bone to the toes — my physical activity plummeted during my junior year.
I decided to get a Y membership to keep me active and I started swimming laps because it wouldn’t have a huge impact on my feet. This brought back my love of swimming, and I wanted to swim competitively again. I knew that I wouldn’t make the high school team, so I joined the JCC team, just as I had in third grade.
When I re-joined the team, it was as if I had never left. It all felt the same except for the fact that I wasn’t swimming as fast as I had four years prior. But that didn’t bother me, the experience was bringing back my love for the sport and the passion I once had. After all these years, I think I’ve finally gotten the hang of swimming the butterfly (the undeniable hardest stroke in the sport) and I can focus more on my technique while gaining proper exercise.
What I’ve learned is that it’s never too late to go back to something I once did. And it’s never too late to try something new. Next year, I may even join a swim club in college or swim laps at the university’s pool. Regardless finding something that I enjoy and that is beneficial to me is worth a couple swim rashes and chlorine hair.
