Reflections on my time on a Swim Team

by Christian Ford

For many of us, being on a swim team as a teenager was our entry into being socially active. Our team membership allowed us to meet people with whom we had something in common, namely a love of the water and the desire to excel at swimming. Splash

These were the people who saw you with crazy goggle tan lines, the people who never judged when you picked wedgies from your racing suit, the people who watched you grow up every summer from an awkward little minnow to a slightly less awkward young man or woman. If you were a swimmer growing up, instead of being 90% water like most human children, you were made up of 85% water, and at least 5% chlorine. And just in case nobody believes your story, the roots of your hair might still be a little green to prove it.

There were plenty of reasons to join a swim team. The workouts are really terrific, for one. Winning ribbons and medals at swim meets never fails to give you a great feeling of accomplishment and self worth. And you'd be lying if you didn't admit to pretending to be Michael Phelps at the Olympics at least once.

But whether you were there to build up your physique, to try to swim impossible distances, to be the fastest swimmer, or just show up for the snacks and the card games you played while waiting for your heat, being on the swim team as a teenager was just the best. We're planning on encouraging our kids to try it when they get old enough, too.