06/05/2023
10 REASONS TO MARRY A SWIMMER
By Ailish Dougherty (Swimming World Archive) 03 May 2023
While every swimmer certainly has their own individual personalities, there are a few characteristics unique to competitive swimmers that have the potential to make them great spouses.
Thus, here are a few reasons why it might be wonderful to spend the rest of your life with a swimmer…
1. They have great bodies.
Usually tall, lean (but not too lean), with strong shoulders and insanely defined six-packs, swimmers have some of the most attractive, fit physiques of all athletes. Swimmers are also very vigilant about their physical fitness, so they won’t let their toned figures disappear in retirement.
2. They’re confident.
Let alone having to parade their scantily-clad bodies around in front of hundreds of people at swim meets and even on television, swimmers must be mentally confident and self-assured in order to perform to the best of their ability. Great swimmers don’t let doubts and fears affect their performance, and in the same vein, they won’t let jealousy or mistrust get in the way of their relationships.
3. They have gratitude.
Swimmers have surely been humbled at some point by a setback that they have had to overcome, and it has only made them realize how lucky they are to be able to participate in the sport that they love. They give credit where credit is due– to their coaches, parents, and teammates who have helped them succeed. They will never take their spouse for granted.
4. They’re smart!
Swimming is one of the smartest sports out there. Swimmers consistently have high graduation rates and GPAs, and a recent survey of Division I programs showed that nearly 40 percent of all female and nearly one-third of male swimmers and divers pursue degrees in STEM fields. Hard work in the pool translates to hard work in the classroom, and hard work in the classroom often translates to success in the job field.
5. They aren’t quitters.
In order to succeed in swimming, an athlete must be goal-oriented and focused, and they mustn’t let hurdles and frustrations discourage them to the point of giving up. Swimmers have the ability to push past any adversity – be it an injury, a missed cut, a bad time, or personal setbacks – and keep pushing to succeed. Swimmers won’t give up on a relationship just because of a little spat. You can count on them to put in the time and effort to make compromises and work out a solution.
6. They’re committed to personal excellence.
I wouldn’t go as far as to call them perfectionists exactly, but swimmers certainly strive to be the best that they can be in each and every one of their endeavors.
7. They’re always up for a quiet night in.
Swimmers are certainly familiar with making sacrifices, such as missing a fun night out for a good night’s sleep. They know exactly when they need to do what’s best for themselves and spend a night at home curled up with a book or a great movie, and they will have no problem sharing it with a partner.
8. They can accept constructive criticism.
Years spent listening to coaches and parents nagging them about stroke technique conditions swimmers to have respect for authority and to be able to take suggestions and advice with gratitude and humility. They don’t offer excuses, they offer solutions. Swimmers are always open and willing to change and improve.
9. They’re hard-working.
Swimmers are the opposite of lazy. If they are able to wake up at 5 a.m. for a morning practice, they can make it through a dinner with their in-laws. Focused, dedicated, and disciplined, swimmers have the capacity to be fantastic husbands and wives, and even better parents.
10. They’re supportive.
Being a part of a swim team for years instills in swimmers a sense of community and pride in their team. They would do anything to support their fellow teammates, because they see them as family. Imagine how devoted and loyal they would be to their real family!
All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.
