What is the best age to start competitive swimming? Michael Phelps started competing at seven years old, and Katie Ledecky started at six. Like these two greats, most world-class swimmers have begun competing by the time they are eight to twelve years of age. Children as young as one year old can learn to swim….
I have a love-hate relationship with the smell of chlorine in my hair. On the one hand, it’s not exactly a pleasant smell. But sometimes it does feel a bit like a badge of honor, proving that yes I did get out of bed extra early enough in order to go for a swim before…
How many people know how to swim in the country where you live? What about worldwide? Learning to swim was something I took for granted during my childhood, but when the time came for me to arrange swimming lessons for my own daughter, I realized I didn’t know if it was a common experience or…
On my local beach senior citizens, some in their eighties or older, can be seen each morning heading for the waves. And they don’t confine their visits to fine weather. Ultra cold water swimming is popular with seniors too! So, is there a link between swimming and longevity, do swimmers age more slowly and stay…
Why does swimming make me sleepy? I started swimming as a way to up my fitness and overall energy, so you can imagine my surprise after my first few lessons when I emerged exhausted from the pool! The interesting phenomena of feeling sleepy or lethargic after getting out of the pool can be chalked up…
Which lane is best for swimming? When I first started swimming, I swam in whatever lane was available. But, as I started getting more serious about my fitness and beating my personal best for each stroke, I started to wonder if the lane I chose could have an impact. And of course, the answer can…
Is swimming better than cycling? Swimming and cycling are two of my favorite sports. Both are low impact ways to boost your mood and increase fitness. But, it’s natural to wonder if one is better than the other for your health and overall athleticism. No matter what the answer, it’s super important to be exercising…
I love following the swimming coverage at the Olympics, and something that always stands out for me is the height of the competitors at such an elite level. It’s not unusual for them to tower over many of the officials and observers. Which got me wondering, how tall are Olympic swimmers? Luckily for me, some…
How hard is it to swim the English Channel? Whenever I see someone swimming the Channel, I think: how hard can it really be? After all, you can see France from England’s shores! But, at its narrowest point, the English Channel is still a whopping 21 miles long. This is a near-impossible task for those…
Why do swimmers have long torsos, and will I ever be able to compete in terms of speed and technique without one? We’re all gloriously unique in our own body shapes, but a long torso is something lots of elite swimmers have in common. That’s because it usually means a bigger lung capacity, and better…
