Persevere, Reflect, and Defeat Yourself: Ashley and Swimming

Though Ashley might not be the best swimmer, she's definitely as passionate as any athlete about swimming.

Before joining her school's swim team, Ashley never expected herself to be a competitive swimmer. Now, being in the swim team for more than four years, Ashley wished to share some of her experiences in her swimming endeavor.

“When I was in grade one, one of my mom's friends recommended a swimming coach to me, and that was my first try at swimming. The feeling of floating in the pool is very different from walking on the ground. It was very relaxing! Then I met a lot of people throughout my swim practice; they were all very nice, so I chose to continue this sport. Gradually, I developed my interest in swimming.

In fifth grade, I transferred to another school where every class had swimming lessons for PE. Due to my past swimming experiences, I was in the accelerated group. After each practice, our coach encouraged the top swimmers to try out for the swim team. I felt that this could have been a great opportunity so I decided to join without hesitation.

Of course, in addition to all the joy, I faced difficulties. There was a time when I simply could not beat my Personal Best and was plagued by peer pressure. It was devastating. I was afraid of not being the best. I was afraid my teammates would look down on me.

I trained harder than ever and tried my best to improve my speed. However, I still made no progress and was not doing well like my peers. It was very discouraging and I doubted myself. Sometimes even, I began to question myself: should I continue swimming?

After struggling for a while, I finally found a way out. I convinced myself that I shouldn't get too pressured when I see my competitors, but instead learn from them first. Well - even if I view them as opponents and people that swim better, it does not mean anything. They are still my friends, and they are the ones who motivate me to persevere and do my best.”

I have realized that swimming is not just about competing, it's also about making a lot of precious memories, and I had so much fun when I was training with my teammates.

As Ashley’s best friend at school, I witnessed her progress over these years: not only has she improved her swimming speed, but she has begun to enjoy this sport rather than training for the sake of training. She also gave some advice for any athlete looking for more motivation.

“I believe that persistence always leads to victory. Participating in competitions are also very important: we have to reflect based on our performance and learn from others. When you are swimming at more advanced levels, they are what determines the outcome. The factors that have contributed to my overall confidence over the years probably come from my friends. Even though swimming is not a team sport, when we train together, I feel a family-like bond between us.”

“Based on my personal experience, I would advise those who want to participate in competitive swimming that your skills are extremely important for your improvement. I always remind myself that only good skills can lead to good results. Also, as I mentioned earlier, peer pressure used to bother me a lot. That's why I want to say to that don’t be ashamed if you are not the best! Your family, friends and coaches are always there to support you - just try your best and enjoy every training!”