Professional swimmers struggle through a great many trials in their careers. Professional swimming is fraught with health issues, performance pressures and opportunities to abuse substances, but professional swimmers love what they do so much that they push through these trials. For them, the reward is the only thing they see. Their eyes are on the prize, so to speak. Professional swimming can offer widespread acclaim, the opportunity to compete and titles and medals that signify glory. Competitive swimming is challenging, but for some, the rewards far exceed the hardships.

Being able to compete in a swimming match is a thrill that some people live for. Some professional swimmers love to be in the water, but the element of thrill is introduced when the sound of the shotgun firing indicates that a match has begun. Competition is one of the driving forces for many professional swimmers, and professional athletes in general. Some of them claim that they cannot reach their full potential unless they know they are in competition with other athletes for the same title. Competition is a major attraction to swimming for professional athletes.

For those who have given everything they have to becoming the strongest swimmer possible and have managed to beat out the competition, the reward is the recognition of being the best. Professional swimmers, such as those competing in the Olympic ceremonies, are recognized and accredited by the level of swimming achievement they attain. Swimmers are often recognized by gold, silver and bronze medals, and are given titles ranking them as first, second and third best competitors in whatever rank their competition presides over. The Olympics obviously honor the best athlete in the world, and the competitions get smaller from there.

The acclaim that comes with the award and title that professional swimmers compete for is enormous. Professional swimmers will be asked to endorse products, appear in commercials and even make celebrity appearances in the media because of the recognition they achieve. These gestures are frequently ways that professional swimmers supplement their income, but to them, the glory of being titled the best at what they do is where the pride comes from. Fame is not what an athlete pursues, but recognition as the best is.