Swimming is a hobby many of us take up when we are young, and many of us carry it on into our adulthood. For most people, swimming is a fun, therapeutic activity, but for professional swimmers, it is life. Professional swimmers cannot afford to be carefree about the time they spend in the water. The level of dedication that swimming requires in order to be one of the best is more than most people can handle. It calls for a grueling schedule, rigorous discipline and incredible time and energy devoted to practice.

A professional swimmer’s schedule revolves around their time in the water. The amount of time they spend in the water is considerable, but even when they are not swimming, the rest of their day revolves around their swimming. Meal times need to be planned around their time in the water. Additional exercise outside of the pool is designed to benefit time in the pool. Other unique considerations are made, such as setting a schedule for when to shave body hair. Body hair is grown out during practice then shaved before a competition to create less resistance of movement in the water.

The discipline it takes to be a professional swimmer is remarkable. Professional swimmers deny themselves foods, free time and less strenuous activities, opting instead for diet foods, as well as constant hard work and dedicated practice. Swim coaches are known to be some of the most strict professional athlete coaches, however, professional swimmers are already well aware of the level of discipline they need to put forward in order to be competitive. Their drive and determination is very intense.

The energy that a professional swimmer puts into their performance is seemingly never ending. Professional swimmers practice their sport racing against a clock and attempt to beat their own times as well as the record times they are attempting to break. All swimming competitions come down to time measurements, which means that professional swimmers put every ounce of energy they have into improving their speed. They push themselves to extreme exhaustion in order to out do time marks.

Being a professional swimmer is a unique calling. Those who make a career for themselves in professional swimming were usually drawn to the water at an early age, and have spent a lifetime honing their aquatic skills. Professional swimming has a great many rewards and an equal number of hardships, like all athletic professions, and those who compete are driven to pursue the lifestyle that professional swimming demands. Pro swimmers can expect a lifetime of dedication, glory and hardships to come their way.

Professional swimmers have a remarkable amount of dedication to their sport. The practice and competition schedule can be gruelling, with training and meets back to back, several times a day. The practice involves speed training, technique in the water and diving practice. Professional swimmers even regulate the amount of body hair they have to give them less resistence in the water. The level of dedication expected in order to remain competitive is very high.

The inspiration for the dedication to the sport is the glory of being acknowledged as the best. Professional swimmers, on average, do not make impressive salaries unless they gain some level of celebrity and endorsements. The glory is the key motivating factor. Achieving medals, awards and athletic acclaim in swim competitions is what every professional swimmer strives for when they are in the water.

However, a lifetime of professional swimming certainly comes with its challenges as well. The pressure to perform well from coaches and sponsors can overwhelm any professional athlete. Stress and anxiety is very common in the world of professional sports, and it is very common for athletes to try to self-medicate with illegal drugs, prescription drugs or alcohol. Addiction and substance abuse problems are not unlikely among professional swimmers. They also frequently face health problems, such as swimmers ear, and can come away from their professional run with damaged ear drums and hearing loss. Devoting one’s self to professional swimming is not for the faint of heart.