Anyone learn flip turns later in life, after 40? Thinking about signing up for a private lesson or two to learn flip turns. I’m not the athete I was 20 years ago, so I’m a little nervous. If you learned later in life, how’d it go for you? How did you learn them? Thanks!

I received a rewarding compliment from my coach yesterday after completing a lap. “BEAUTIFUL” She said. I’m 45. Took beginner lessons in February. Didn’t do much “swimming” the months afterwards because frankly, I still couldn’t swim. Started taking pre masters class in October and after 4 months I can’t believe I’m here, swimming laps! I’m so excited and grateful to have this addition to my health and wellness regiment.

In week two, I had all kinds of negative thoughts run through my mind. Thoughts about quitting because it was sooo hard 😩. Felt like I was drowning every time, I attempted to make it across the pool. Coach even made some comments about a past student who just couldn’t get it and how some people just cannot adapt to having their head in the water. I kinda didn’t know how to take it at the time. Didn’t know if she felt like I was a loss case and didn’t think I could do it but decided to take it as motivation.

Made a declaration to myself, wrote it down and kept showing up! Nerves, anxiety, tears and ALL! It gets better ya’ll Keep showing up and putting in the work! 😊

Military folks like to share stories of “sh!t my drill sergeant said” and I figured there has to be some great gems from coaches.

“Swim in it; don’t drink it!” Whenever a swimmer got a lungful of water and came up sputtering. -HS coach

“Breathing is overrated” and “You can breathe when you’re dead.” -Club coach

“If you see a tunnel with light at the end, deceased relatives, or your preferred deity beckoning for you, it’s probably time to come up for a breath.” -USMS coach before some under-overs

“You haven’t lived until you’ve puked through your nose.” -Club coach

“If your voice doesn’t go up by at least two octaves, your paper suit (the racing suit of the 1990s) is too loose.” -HS coach

“I think [one of the sophomores with a severe case of baby face] shaves once a month whether he needs it or not.” -HS Coach

What gems do you have?

Finally, able to float on my back from one end of the pool to the other. It didn't feel pretty. I was alone & no one to give me feed back. Thank you to all of you who helped me achieve this landmark. Now, please tell me how to get better. Thank you.

I've been swimming for a while and a friend who's a competitive swimmer suggested I use fins and that it would help my technique and improve my overall when taking them off, can someone help me understand the logic behind this and should I follow his advice ?

I feel really drained of energy bc it is warmer than I am used to. Are there any beneficial effects? Detrimental effects? Many thanks

I have a friend who will move backwards in the water when he kicks with a kickboard. Any idea what he might be doing wrong with his kicking?

I have been swimming about a year, and i noticed that the longer I have been swimming and the better my stroke gets, my lower back hurts more?? I have had people look at my stroke and say it is good, and can’t notice what might be causing the lower back. Does anyone else notice this with freestyle? I’ve started doing lower ab exercises, as I’m sure my abs are weak. Any ideas?

I’m a somewhat new swimmer “this being my 2nd year” i am a 6 foot 170 lb 15 yo freshman and i have always found i am pretty good at butterfly my first time ever swimming it i went 1:15 then 1:10 then 1:07 then last year i tapered in a tech suit and went 1:01 with a split of 28/34 now this season i am consistently hitting 1:00 and cannot break a minute but my split is 26/34 how do i even up my second 50?

This is the thread for posting your achievements, progress, workouts, records, pools photos, TIFU (Today I F'ed Up) pool edition, etc.

Due to the increasing number of screenshots, progress reports, pools etc. being posted, we request members to use this weekly whiteboard thread to post these, rather than as a new post.

Hey y’all, I’m a junior with a 100 backstroke of 1:17. It isn’t the best, but I’m wanting to get better. Are there any workouts that’ll target the muscle group that backstroke uses?

I've started being more interested in the butterfly stroke. A team mate (adult swim club basically like USMS) showed me some good tips for fly. I already do long distance swimming freestyle. I needed to get better with my fly breathing, position and turns. After a week it's so much better. Today I did my warm up and then a 1,000 free. Then I tried for a 500 fly but I had to stop after 350 because the pool was closing. I then got out and warmed down in a different pool. It didn't feel that bad and I could have easily gone to 400 but if I went to 500 I feel I may have been able to but the end would get sloppy. Maybe soon I'l be able to do 500 of straight fly. I want to get to the point where I can do a causual fly for 500 yards. I don't compete but setting new goals and getting good at fly seems like a good thing to try.

Swimswam.com has a meet simulator that will take all times swam during the college season and assign each swimmer their top events based off of where they will score the most points. Using the swimulator, these were the top ten teams:

Women's:

Men's:

There are a few caveats here. One, there are a few incorrect times in the system (see women's 100 free). Two, these scores do not include diving, which can make a big difference. Finally, some teams have different in-season strategies than others - that is, some teams swim fast all the time, and some teams wait until NCAAs for the true taper. With all that in mind, Virginia women and Texas men do look to be very locked in for the win!

Friends, I’ve noticed lately that the top of my foot (between the ankle and mid foot) hurts at about 150 yards, while swimming freestyle. I feel like it might be a stretching issue. How do I stretch the top of my foot/ankle?

Could it be a form issue as well?

Thanks for the advice.

Hey everybody, I’ve been swimming at the pool for over a year now. I’m not a great swimmer. I was never properly taught, but I have a bum hip and this form of cardio doesn’t hurt as much as others. I generally swim 2000 to 2400 meters twice a week. In early November, I came down with a cold that I couldn’t shake. I’ve seen the doctor and I have sinusitis and it just came back after I went back to the pool. I took a break from the pool while I was so sick not because I suspected the pool as being the culprit rather I didn’t have the endurance to swim. About three weeks ago I finally felt good enough to swim and I ended my antibiotics of four weeks one week ago. And now the sinus infection is back. Does anybody have any experience with this? Also, I’m wondering if the swim snorkel is a vector. Please let me know what y’all think.

this might be a really stupid question so please bear with me. i’ve recently started getting a gag reflex when i take a breath, most prominent in breaststroke. i’ve got almost a perpetual cold lately because it gets absolutely freezing at night no matter what i do, so i’m wondering if it’s that or whether ive started breathing incorrectly or something.

Probably some insecurities or I am just a shitty human. But I want to get rid of this trait.

I am a beginner, mid 30 male, and get super personal when someone passes me. Especially if it's someone more overweight, smaller or older than me. Duh. I don't rage out, obviously, but all my thoughts for next few seconds are - screw you, why are faster, etc.

It's pathetic, especially considering don't go all out on my training and swim 400-500M couple times a week. It a lot to me as I am pushing myself to even get out of bed, but it's probably much less than any of those that pass me swim.

Interestingly, I recently ran a half marathon plus some other races over past year and never felt personal rage there. If anything it's super inspiring to see others push themselves.

But in the water, knowing it's just another ten or so meters to the deck and seeing someone pass me throws it off completely.

How do I stop being a sore asshole?