As children, we engage in games and sports for enjoyment. Eventually, some of us transition to new sports or elevate our competitive level. I have been fortunate to explore various sports throughout my life, all of which have imparted valuable lessons.

This article will highlight five significant insights that swimming has taught me—lessons that can be applied by anyone, in any context.

1. Dedication is Key

   Training for four hours daily in the pool, along with an additional hour of dryland workouts, just to shave off a single second from your best time, exemplifies true dedication. Remarkably, nearly all swimmers undertake this commitment without financial compensation.

   This sentiment extends beyond swimming; countless athletes across disciplines, including gymnastics, ice skating, wrestling, and boxing, often remain unpaid throughout their careers. Swimming has instilled in me an appreciation for hard work. The exhilaration of victory and achieving personal records cannot be replaced by money. True motivation comes from within.

   > “Victory belongs to those who believe in it the most and believe in it the longest.”

   > — Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle

   Ultimately, it’s about how deeply you desire your goals.

2. Patience is Essential

   Achieving your aspirations requires a long-term commitment.

   > “I was 40 years old before I became an overnight success, and I’d been publishing for 20 years.”

   > — Mary Karr

   It took me two and a half years to qualify for a national final, followed by another two years to win a national junior title, totaling over four years. Three years later, I claimed a national senior title, adding up to seven years of dedication.

   My first year at a NCAA D1 college was challenging; I was an Irish 17-year-old grappling with homesickness. However, by my sophomore year, I secured my first conference title in the 200-yard butterfly and subsequently clinched multiple titles at the national championship the following year.

   Swimming has taught me that time is one of our most precious resources; spend it wisely.

3. Learn from Setbacks

   The lows in any journey often far outnumber the highs.

   > “Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end.”

   > — Denis Waitley

   Every new undertaking involves risk, and failure is almost guaranteed. Embracing both success and failure is crucial.

   The only way to ensure failure is to avoid trying altogether, which ironically constitutes a failure in itself.

   > “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

   > — Thomas A. Edison

   When I was 14, a close friend qualified for the national junior team ahead of me, leading to tears in the backseat of my parents’ car. Despite the disappointment, I went to my club pool to train, where my coach pushed me hard, and I learned to channel my emotions into motivation.

   The challenge lies in understanding that failure can be a powerful ally.

4. Temporary Discomfort

   There’s a difference between casual exercise and serious training. Swimmers engage in two types of workouts:

   1. Sessions aimed at building strength and endurance.
   2. Intense “hell-sessions” designed to push you to your limits.

   These rigorous practices are intentionally crafted to break you down in order to build you up as a champion.

   > “Pain is temporary, glory…lasts forever!”

   > — George Best

   While swimming can be physically painful, it has taught me to manage and utilize pain as a means of growth.

   Remember, pain is fleeting.

5. Value the Journey

   We often hear that life is about the journey rather than the destination. Reflect on your own experiences:

   • Have you truly reached your final destination?
   • Is there even a single final destination?

   When we think we've achieved our goals, we often find ourselves setting new ones shortly after.

   > “For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’”

   > — Steve Jobs

   While it’s vital to have goals, what truly matters is finding joy in the process. This realization can be transformative.