The sound of water and my cheering teammates faintly in the background are all I can hear. This is a photo of me mid-race, pushing my body to the absolute limit and using many weeks and hundreds of hours of training in hopes of dropping just a fraction of a second.
This photo was taken on March 28th, 2026, at the Paseo Valentine’s block party swim meet. This specific event was my 100-meter butterfly. The butterfly is one of my least favorite events, but sometimes I just have to do it. It is important because it pushes me outside of
my comfort zone and forces me to become a stronger swimmer. The butterfly is considered one of the hardest races in swimming because it requires a lot of endurance. By the second lap, every muscle in your body starts to burn, but swimmers must continue to push through the pain.
This photo represents the hard work and determination of not only me, but everyone who does competitive swimming. The training we swimmers go through can be very challenging, but we continue to push through it.
Swimming requires a lot of both physical and mental strength. Athletes spend hours upon hours each day, sometimes multiple times, to fine-tune their technique. Many say the sport teaches discipline and time management because practices often take place before or after school or sometimes even both.
At swim meets, swimmers get the chance to represent their swim team. The swimmers can compete in individual races as well as relays or sometimes even both, where timing and teamwork play a huge role. Many family members, parents, and team members watch as the swimmer races and cheer them on.
My mom often tells me, ” I watch you swim thousands of yards a day and can’t believe how hard you push yourself.” She reminds me of how I should continue to push myself even when it hurts.
So that is why swimmers can be some of the most dedicated and hard-working athletes out there.