How Can Swimmers Deal With Adversity?
As an athlete, you are always on display. Every time you go out to compete, you are under a microscope. Rivals assessing your results. Friends and coaches hoping for the best. Neutrals looking for an exciting race. It is a pressure cooker of an environment. Everyone, from people you have never met to your closest confidants, are expectant.
The pressure is real, and it is only amplified the higher you rise up the ranks. For those who reach the elite level of the sport, crowds grow and social media becomes a factor. People who do not know you may not have the same grace that friends and peers do. The negativity can be ugly, but it’s part of the 21st century and is not going away.
There are many other factors that can trigger difficulty for an athlete, however. Physical injury, illness, loss of motivation, fluctuations in form, and external academic factors can all play a role.
So, how can swimmers deal with this adversity? Can it be turned into a positive motivator?
In What Forms is Adversity Most Common?
Everyone has to conquer some forms of adversity as they traverse every day life. A swimmer’s journey to the top is no different. It takes the low moments to make the highs feel enjoyable. When asked to name a setback that a swimmer could potentially face, most would point to injury. This is a physical barrier between an individual and outcomes, either inhibiting or destroying performance for a set time.
Beyond the immediate physical pain, waiting for an injury to heal is what can make rehabilitation so difficult. There is simply no way to will an instant recovery. This scenario means waiting on the sideline for days, weeks or months for the issue to resolve itself.
This forced waiting game can be extremely difficult to accept. However, there are ways to fight through the mental struggle. Remind yourself of the promising days that await. Reminisce about great memories and envision the thrill of overcoming adversity to triumph. Pride yourself in being mentally tough.
Physical illnesses fall in to the same boat. There may be temptation to rush back into action as quickly as possible. However, pushing too early might be counterproductive and exacerbate the sickness. More, you run the risk of infecting teammates and dealing them setbacks.
The Ills of Social Media
Social media, in isolation, is a wonderful tool. Forging instant communication between long-lost friends who live on opposite sides of the globe is enriching. Yet, it also has a dark side. Many believe not being physically in the same room as an individual, and using faceless accounts, provides the chance to spew hatred they would never have the nerve to communicate in person.
Those spreading negativity online may believe it has no influence on those who are on the receiving end. When you do not know someone, and you just see them on television and social media, some may slip in to the belief that they are simply characters, rather than real people with their own feelings and struggles.
Not only is it necessary to ignore the negativity that often pops up on social media, it’s important to be the better person. Carry yourself with class. Possess integrity. Don’t look to take others down. There is no win in that approach.
Mental strength can be equally as key as physical strength, if not more. As world record holding Paralympian Anastasia Pagonis once said: “Mental health is 100% of the game. If you’re not mentally there, then you’re not there at all, and you’re not going to be able to race. So why even race at that point? That’s my conclusion on it. Being mentally there is more important than being physically there.”
Battle Through the Adversity
Blocking out negativity is a must. If an influence is detracting from your ability to perform at the highest level, it can make all the difference. Ignore it. Evaluate what and who you surround yourself with in training and everyday life. If there is anything that feels like it is creating a negative environment, look to eliminate it.
Adversity can come in many shapes and sizes. The focus is pushing forward, identifying how it can be handled and follow that gameplan. You are strong. You can fight through any obstacle.
