Competition vs Training

‍Why competitive swimming?

Both Luisa and I have been swimming competitively since we were 7 years old. We both loved swimming so much that it was natural for us to start competing at an early age. This means we were exposed to the pressure and excitement of a competition as kids. Experiencing these scenarios were crucial to accumulate wisdom through very important lessons. Whatever we were confronted with, good or bad, we were always pushed to accept what was and transform these lessons into motivation which drove us in training. Luisa and I were very lucky with the coaches that guided us in our early years of practicing this beautiful sport and it is through them that we were able to enjoy the process of trying to master this complex art.  

Why is the process so important?

Both Luisa and I have one common strength which makes it fairly easy to train together and get ready for competitions. We are both very disciplined athletes that will do anything in our ability to meet whatever we have set to achieve in our minds. For us it is always natural to work hard and show to practice everyday to give 100%, for we understood very early on that without putting the work in the results will show the truth. I have always loved the process because I simply loved to push myself above my limits in training and race other swimmers in the group. However, racing at competitions was always a very stressful experience which inhibited me from showing my full potential. Luisa however, coming from a small training group in a small town was always super excited to travel the world to compete and train with foreign clubs.   

‍The complexity of competing

Have you ever wondered why it was so "easy" to compete as a kid and why it became so difficult as an adult? Of course the physical component plays a key role, but the ultimate deciding factor is what goes on within yourself, in our minds that makes a difference. As a matter of fact as kids we don't lose ourselves in our thoughts, we have the ability to lose ourselves in a game while playing. This means we were able to stay present in the moment and have fun racing and competing with other kids. The vibe we felt within was more excitement and joy as compared to the fear and pressure we gradually started to feel as adults. This is the tricky part of competing, especially for swimmers like Luisa and I who are very disciplined and have got very good work etiquettes. 

When you start tasting that type of success, like new personal best times, medals, records and qualification norms attachment arises. With this identification, expectations arise and with that desperation comes along. Desperation often gives birth to frustration, because if the targeted goal is not met anger wakes up. With anger and fear it's game over. The sport that we once loved so much can quickly turn into a burden and the cause of our misery. Over decades of racing at national and international competitions, we have come to appreciate that competitive sport is so much more than just a sport. It's actually a competition with ourselves, cultivating enough self awareness to be able to stay true to ourselves no matter what we are doing. The inner state stays the same and present in the moment we can enjoy what we are doing. We have realised that this is the real success and with this shift in approach racing at a competition or in training becomes easy.  

As we are approaching the end of the season we are once again amazed how much happened during this time. As always there were lots of ups and downs, but we know that this is what the process is. We know that transformation within is happening, for it is how we react with situations that determine our inner state. One thing is certain, no matter the results of a competition we are grateful to be doing what we love most, which is simply swimming freely.

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