When you think of swimming, the first thought that comes to your mind is of a “low impact high calorie activity.” It is most notably known for its full body workout and its high calorie intervals. This unique sport has 4 strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. Freestyle is the most popular stroke as it is the fastest and is relatively easy to learn. One of the greatest athletes in the world, easily comparable to Michael Jordan or Lionel Messi, revolutionized the swimming world. The infamous Michael Phelps, known for his 10,000 calorie a day training regimen, competed in the butterfly for more than a decade and has won over 20 medals.
Benefits
Doctors recommend swimming for many types of problems like mental health issues, chronic back pain, joint and muscle pain, stress, arthritis, osteoporosis, and many more. Swimming also burns a large number of calories, making it easier for some people to lose weight. Water is 800x denser than air, so it takes a lot of muscle/energy to move through it which, in turn, burns a lot of calories. It is also low impact; the buoyancy of the water counteracts the earth's gravity, making you feel like you're floating.
Advanced Technology
Swimming doesn't have a lot of technology involved with it, but tracking the calories, different strokes, and even time is made easier with the use of smart devices. Waterproof suits that reduce drag (to make you faster) will evolve as technology advances, which will create a new generation of speedy swimmers. Who knows where swimming will be in the next 50 years? As sea levels rise, some speculate as to whether swimming will become as common as walking down the street.
The Future
Experts aren't sure whether or not swimming is a growing sport; the pandemic shut down all local pools and the lack of data makes this question quite speculative. What experts do know is that swimming isn't going anywhere. Sales for swim caps and goggles were on the rise before covid hit, making the demand for proper swimwear quite apparent. However, lots of gyms don't contain pools because it's very costly to create and maintain a pool especially for businesses that are recovering from the pandemic.
Money
Every sport has its own way with money. Some sports like basketball offer million dollar contracts to players for their certain skills. Swimming is much different. The only way to make money from competitive swimming is from endorsements/brand deals or from prize money/gold medals. In other words, you have to be very good at swimming to get paid well, which is hard to do as it is a highly technical sport. It isn't like tennis, badminton, or basketball where you can practice certain skills and once you get the hang of it you move on to the next thing to learn. In swimming, you must master the technique in order to perform at your best. This may involve proper nutrition, swimming classes, weight training frequently, and/or formal coaching. Over time, those expenses add up.
Swimming is a great way to spend time with your family or to just de-stress from your busy schedule. The feeling of water rubbing against your body makes all your problems go away and it's a great way to burn some calories and stay active. Whether you're a competitive swimmer looking to go pro or a novice trying to lose a couple pounds, swimming is a good way to start.
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