Sports Then and Now

Unlike leisure swimming wear, selecting a swimwear for competitive swimming should be a carefully thought and analysed purchase. Having the right wear is a crucial factor in competitive swimming – where in the performance is measured to the nearest of 0.10 seconds. Top tier competitive swimmers are separated by 0.10 seconds, and if you are wearing the tech suit that fits into your physique perfectly, it helps you to reduce the drag of your body and boosts your speed and performance. High tech suits improved the efficiency of swimmers to such an extent that in 2009, FINA, the world body governing the sport, banned use of high tech swimsuit totally.

Swimming as a sport and competitive swimming are two different areas. If you are the latter area and planning to head into the first one, than the first question that comes to the fore is: What should I focus on to increase my performance in the pool? Well, to be honest there are plenty of things that you should focus on but we have narrowed them down to 5 areas that you MUST focus at the start.

But before we dive into the details, I want to ensure that you perfectly understand that competitive swimming is all about building stamina by committing more hours to workout per week, focusing on your diet to fulfill all your dietary requirements, focusing on perfecting techniques and strokes and wearing the right swimwears and training equipment.

The areas that we have outlined here can be easily adjusted within your existing routine and help you make your overall swimming training sessions more goal-oriented and fun at the same time (listed in no particular order):

If your kids enjoy swimming, the next logical step might be to introduce them to the world of competitive swimming. In some areas, children as young as five or six can join a local swim team, depending on their skill levels and how comfortable they are in the water. Swimming is a great way to stay active, and doing it competitively can be fun for both you and your child. So what do you need to know before getting your kids into competitive swimming?

Start With the Basics

Don’t throw your kids in the deep end and expect them to be Michael Phelps. Make sure you start with the basics. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until kids are four before they learn to swim, even though there are water safety classes that can teach the basics to children as young as six months old.

If they’re interested in starting competitive swimming, consider enrolling them in a pre-team class. These classes teach the basics of swimming as well as the four competitive strokes so that they’ll be prepared for tryouts and practice. Read the rest of this entry →

A swimming pool is one of the biggest dreams a homeowner can have. The fact is that most people imagine friends and family splashing in their backyard at some point in their lives. If you’ve actually got the space and cash, you might be thinking of really adding one.

There’s more to owning a swimming pool than just splashing in the sun though. In fact, there’s a little bit of hard work that your somebody else is going to have to do. That shouldn’t stop you from getting the pool of your dreams though!

Keep reading to learn what you need to know before you install a swimming pool. You’ll be happy that you have some basic knowledge once that pool is installed and you’re swimming like a dolphin.

Pick the Right Style

There are a lot of styles of pools out there despite what you see in most people’s backyards. The fact is that you can even create a custom swimming pool in any shape or design as long as it works with your backyard.

When choosing a swimming pool design, consider how you want the pool to be used and who is going to be using it. If you’re really putting it in for family and friends, you want a pool that’s large and has multiple depths.

However, if you’re mainly putting in a pool for adult family members or you want to swim for exercise, a single depth lap pool may be the ideal option. Lap pools are also excellent for smaller backyards and more modern homes since their typically geometric shape often looks best with contemporary homes. Read the rest of this entry →

Twenty-eight. That is the number of medals won by Michael Phelps, putting him in the category of “Most Decorated Olympian of All Time.” Truly inspiring not only for Americans who take pride in winning, but also for the next generation of competitive swimmers. Exhibit A: the much-circulated photo of Phelps and Katie Ledecky taken in 2006. She would go on to win her own boatload of medals at the Rio Olympics alongside Michael. The young swimmers diving into the pool today might not have the opportunity to swim alongside Phelps on an Olympic Team, but that won’t diminish their hopes for the gold.

As parents, there are a lot of things you can do in support of your young swimmer beyond just dropping them off at the pool. Here’s what to know before getting your kids into competitive swimming:

You’ll Need to Start With the Basics

As with any type of sport, it is essential that your kid start with the basics. Swimming lessons are a great way to introduce your young swimmer to the various strokes and styles. They’ll quickly discover the challenges associated with competitive swimming, including the importance of a proper turn. These swimming lessons will become the foundation for all that follows in their competitive swimming career. Read the rest of this entry →

Just when we had begun contemplating a summer Olympics without swimming veteran and champion Michael Phelps, we suddenly find we don’t have to.

He shocked everyone with the unexpected announcement that he would be stepping out of retirement to compete for gold once more.

Perhaps it’s because he truly missed being in the water: what some consider to be his natural element. Others think it could be the leader in him, as performances by other American swimmers leave much to be desired as of late.

As all eyes turn to Brazil, the host nation of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, there are some questions that many would like to see answered by and of Phelps before he hits the water in a couple of years’ time.

Why did he Leave Retirement?

“I missed being in the water,” said Phelps of his absence. “And I missed those kinds of races.” Read the rest of this entry →