DS has some swimming talent. Actually, he has quite a lot of swimming talent. (Definitely does not get it from me or DH!!) However, although he has his sights set on the olympic podium, I just have no idea how to support him to get there, and if it's even possible for mere mortals?
If you go to a regular swim club, is Olympic participation one day possible? Or were all our Olympic champs enrolled in some kind of talent programme from the age of 4?
Would love to hear that there is an Olympic medalist out there that was just in a regular swim club until a teen, but do they all spring from Milfield or Leander, or have spent their whole swimming lives in an already established super club, with Olympic coaches?!
Just curious! :) (As feeling a bit sorry for DS that we don't know what we r doing, and are not keen on moving to Devon or near the other specialist pools!)
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What makes a champ?
IngredientsToWin · 12/03/2019 18:55
Behind every successful swimmer is a long suffering parent/family behind the scenes 
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Seriously, I think it takes much more than just talent to make a 'champ'. I don't know how old your son is but there is nothing wrong with having ambition. The really good thing about swimming (and there's some really bad, as PPs' have pointed out!) is there are wider benefits to supporting a swimmer if they stick it out over the developing years. Because it is such a tough sport that requires huge dedication, long training hours, little social time, reduced sleep etc etc, swimmers who come out the other end are recognised at having strong mental resilience, great multi tasking skills, and have developed strong friendship groups where there are no class barriers, as it's not elitist like some other sports. It is also not uncommon for swimmers to regularly see olympians and say I used to swim with him/her in my club!.
You really don't need a specialist school, but some choose it because it can make life easier for their swimmer. Many of today's elite swimmers came from grass root clubs, may have chosen then a swimming university and are able to study as well as swim for as long as their passion holds. The swim org (where you can see tables of all GB's swimmers who have recorded official times from licensed meets) enables talented swimmers to be identified and put on development pathways where applicable, working alongside the local club.
DC change. Those that are great swimmers at 8 may have different interests at 13. Most of us have swimmers who have a whole host of objectives, even if at the most basic level it's to just keep a high level of fitness, but for some it will be to reach olympic participation. There's a whole bunch of regular clubs with decent (and yes, ex olympians/coaches) that do get there, with all the right support.
Good luck!
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