Susan Williams ’3 Simple Joys of Swimming

Susan Williams and her daughter after her medal-earning performance. Photo: Frank Wechsel/Triathlon.org

10 commentaires

All good stuff – I couldn’t agree more

Ed Sullivan 07 février 2023

Love this thanks for sharing I totally agree the mental health benefits as a fulltime work solo dad of two far out weigh the reasons not to swim.
I’m a massive fan of openwater too and was once a pro triathlete dabbling in events around the ITU world.
20 years in the sport still hands down the one that brings the most inner peace is in the openwater amongst mother nature and the amazing elements our beautiful country aotearoa has to offer.
Awesome article 👏

Clark Ellice 07 février 2023

Swimming is to me like getting in the zone!!!
I use to run a lot and I will get in the zone running for like 45 minutes every day now the mile and half keeps getting shorter in time thanks to the Ocean walker technique.
But anyway to me swimming is like jogging in water share the love and be fearless with your form.

Manuel Duenas 07 février 2023

I agree, since babyhood I have swum and competed and I lost most of my hearing at birth. In the water, I do not have to hear anyone, yet; I love to talk to people at the pool and they are my best friends no matter their age or gender. Swimmers are a special breed of humanity, we are happy to see you and enjoy the water no matter if you lack mobility or have dementia…to see the joy in peoples’ faces make me so very happy. No matter all my troubles, they disappear when I swim. To swim is to be a part of life. A life that is all yours.

susan huber 07 février 2023

Years ago my husband had a knee operation. Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong. We didn’t know if he would live or lose a leg. My kids were in junior high. While my husband was in the hospital I got up early and swam. I could cry without my kids seeing it. I just told them my goggles leaked (before Magic5). Swimming was my lifesaver; I could carry on around my kids and help create a semi normal time for them. Fortunately, after 6 more operations, he is fine and I still swim! I do tell my husband that if he was a swimmer, he would have not needed a knee operation (collegiate runner).

karen obrien 07 février 2023

Thank you for sharing this. Reading about the joy swimming brings to you reminded me this morning that I need to get back in the water. After losing my mom unexpectedly over the holidays, I have been out of the water for over a month as I struggle to process life without her. Everything you said about swimming is true and sometimes you need someone to remind you why swimming, movement, nature and a community of friends is important.

Anna Tilton 07 février 2023

Thank you for your inspirational comments!

JIm Walsh 07 février 2023

Yes I totally agree, swimming has literally saved my life. I have been swimming since I was 9, and now at almost 69, I enjoy it more.?First it’s an all-round workout. Exercising your joints, lungs and heart. I try and swim 3 times a week every week, if I skip I feel like I cheated. It is definitely a big part of my life 🏊‍♀️

Derrick Lewis 07 février 2023

Hi, this is very helpful snd just confirmed my thoughts, thank you for such a honest blog of your experiences

Matthew Abercrombie 07 février 2023

Mental health
Friends
Nature

Those are 3 huge benefits of swimming!

Boris 07 février 2023

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"Ma joie est de nager", déclare Susan Williams, médaillée de bronze olympique de 2004 . En tant que première Américaine à remporter une médaille en triathlon, la natation a joué un rôle important dans la vie de Williams et, même si elle est à la retraite du sport professionnel, la natation est restée un élément fondamental de sa vie. De sa propre pratique à l'entraînement des autres, du point de vue à la fois d'athlète et de partenaire et parent, Williams partage trois joies simples de la natation.

Les bienfaits de la natation sur la santé mentale ont été bien documentés. Pour Williams, c'est le changement d'environnement – ​​« le simple fait d'être dans l'eau » – qui a toujours aidé sa santé mentale. "Ce que j'aime dans la natation, c'est que mon cerveau peut courir à cent milles à l'heure ou à zéro mille à l'heure", explique Williams. « Parfois, la natation m'aide à comprendre ce qui se passe. Parfois, c'est juste une occasion de ne penser à rien. Williams dit qu'elle pourrait résoudre un problème stressant, penser au prochain intervalle ou simplement profiter de l'eau. Quoi qu'il en soit, Williams affirme que la natation a toujours été une opportunité de faire une pause dans « une partie de la folie de la vie, juste un petit moment ».

À l'université, Williams avait des coéquipières, au cours de sa carrière professionnelle, elle avait des partenaires d'entraînement et maintenant, en tant qu'entraîneur, Williams a des athlètes, mais ils ont toujours été des collègues nageurs. "Parfois, si je suis vraiment déprimé ou très fatigué, je vais à la piscine et les choses changent", explique Williams. Mais qu’elle soit sur le pont ou dans l’eau, Williams affirme qu’il ne s’agit pas seulement de l’acte physique de nager. La natation a donné à Williams une communauté tout au long de sa vie et ce sont la camaraderie, le soutien et les amitiés tout au long du parcours qui ont continué à être une source de positivité dans sa vie. « Je suis juste heureuse de voir des amis et d'aller dans l'eau », a-t-elle déclaré. dit. "C'est mon endroit heureux, et c'est aussi mon groupe d'amis heureux."

Une partie de ce qui a aidé Williams à se déconnecter n'était pas seulement un changement d'environnement, mais aussi le fait d'être dans la nature. En plus de favoriser les bienfaits pour la santé mentale, nager dehors a été une grande partie de ce qui a permis à Williams de garder la joie de nager tout au long des différentes phases de sa vie.

La natation jusqu'à l'université et son carrière professionnelle de triathlète, elle admet qu'elle a eu des moments où elle était « gorgée d'eau » et ne voulait pas nager dans une piscine intérieure chlorée. Mais nager dehors, être dans la nature, a toujours été une joie pour Williams. Enfant, ayant grandi en Californie, à Hawaï et en Floride, « j'adorais jouer dans l'océan et me balancer et je ne m'en lassais pas », sourit-elle. Aujourd'hui encore, nager en plein air, notamment en eau libre, constitue une expérience particulière pour Williams. «J'adore avoir le soleil sur mon visage et le ciel bleu, ou même nager dehors sous la pluie peut être très agréable parfois aussi… Je regarde les montagnes et le ciel bleu et cela me rend heureux.»

( 10 ) Comments

All good stuff – I couldn’t agree more

Ed Sullivan

Love this thanks for sharing I totally agree the mental health benefits as a fulltime work solo dad of two far out weigh the reasons not to swim.
I’m a massive fan of openwater too and was once a pro triathlete dabbling in events around the ITU world.
20 years in the sport still hands down the one that brings the most inner peace is in the openwater amongst mother nature and the amazing elements our beautiful country aotearoa has to offer.
Awesome article 👏

Clark Ellice

Swimming is to me like getting in the zone!!!
I use to run a lot and I will get in the zone running for like 45 minutes every day now the mile and half keeps getting shorter in time thanks to the Ocean walker technique.
But anyway to me swimming is like jogging in water share the love and be fearless with your form.

Manuel Duenas

I agree, since babyhood I have swum and competed and I lost most of my hearing at birth. In the water, I do not have to hear anyone, yet; I love to talk to people at the pool and they are my best friends no matter their age or gender. Swimmers are a special breed of humanity, we are happy to see you and enjoy the water no matter if you lack mobility or have dementia…to see the joy in peoples’ faces make me so very happy. No matter all my troubles, they disappear when I swim. To swim is to be a part of life. A life that is all yours.

susan huber

Years ago my husband had a knee operation. Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong. We didn’t know if he would live or lose a leg. My kids were in junior high. While my husband was in the hospital I got up early and swam. I could cry without my kids seeing it. I just told them my goggles leaked (before Magic5). Swimming was my lifesaver; I could carry on around my kids and help create a semi normal time for them. Fortunately, after 6 more operations, he is fine and I still swim! I do tell my husband that if he was a swimmer, he would have not needed a knee operation (collegiate runner).

karen obrien

Thank you for sharing this. Reading about the joy swimming brings to you reminded me this morning that I need to get back in the water. After losing my mom unexpectedly over the holidays, I have been out of the water for over a month as I struggle to process life without her. Everything you said about swimming is true and sometimes you need someone to remind you why swimming, movement, nature and a community of friends is important.

Anna Tilton

Thank you for your inspirational comments!

JIm Walsh

Yes I totally agree, swimming has literally saved my life. I have been swimming since I was 9, and now at almost 69, I enjoy it more.?First it’s an all-round workout. Exercising your joints, lungs and heart. I try and swim 3 times a week every week, if I skip I feel like I cheated. It is definitely a big part of my life 🏊‍♀️

Derrick Lewis

Hi, this is very helpful snd just confirmed my thoughts, thank you for such a honest blog of your experiences

Matthew Abercrombie

Mental health
Friends
Nature

Those are 3 huge benefits of swimming!

Boris

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