Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Sports Talent Lost :(

112 replies

CoronaLonaNameChange · 22/04/2020 19:21

So DS is a talented swimmer. He's 8 and was training 4 times a week pre Corona.

Now there is NO swimming :( We can't afford to buy a pool.

He's running to keep fit, but by the time he gets back in the pool he'll have lost a year, not to mention fitness and upper body strength. He'll be a year behind :( and then he'll have to get slowly back to where he was (not expecting he'll be straight back in and take off where he left off).

So sad for him. He misses his swimming soooooo much and running just isn't the same, though he is motivated to stay fit as he's competitive and doesn't want to loose his fitness for swimming. It's not the same though.

I'm so sad for all those little kids that were doing well and will now be behind :( And it's not just swimming - gymnastics, triathlon, boxing, etc... :(

OP posts:
airbags · 22/04/2020 19:59

"Sports Talent Lost :-( " - Very misleading title. Thought I was about to read of the passing of a sporting hero - not some 8yo on lockdown.

Most 8yo swimming talent will be in the same boat. So still competing on a level playing field. Do you really need to be so dramatic?

LIZS · 22/04/2020 19:59

Talent is never lost. Fitness and core strength training will mean he can make up lost ground quickly on return. It will be the same for all. At 8 he may be a good swimmer but in a few years he may discover something else to excel at.

Whenwillthisbeover · 22/04/2020 20:05

I’m so concerned that I was doing really well at yoga and after the virus I wont be able to remember it, let alone be as flexible, its a travesty. I miss it soooo much, DM is so disappointed and upset for me as i may lose my place as one of the UKs most average Yoga bods.

Meanwhile DD does chest X-rays on Coronavirus positive patients with inadequate PPE and risks her life very day. But ya know priorities and all that.

In the old days MN would hand you a grip.

user1495884620 · 22/04/2020 20:06

by the time he gets back in the pool he'll have lost a year

Do you have insider knowledge of this?

reefedsail · 22/04/2020 20:08

You are being absolutely ridiculous! He's 8- he's not even allowed to compete in licensed galas yet. Nobody knows whether any 8yo is going to go on to be a top swimmer, lots haven't even made it into a competitive program by that age. Every junior athlete is in the same scenario.

Here is a grip- hold tight.

bloodyhellsbellsx · 22/04/2020 20:08

In the words of Kourtney, there’s people that are dying!

mondaywine · 22/04/2020 20:11

All swimming kids except a minuscule minority are in the same boat. Today Freya Anderson was talking about how she’s trying to adapt to training without a pool and she’s one of the UK’s most talented swimmers. My DD is a swim kid and she’s cycling 4 times a week to try to keep up cardio fitness, we are doing the flexibility and cross fit sessions sent by her club and she is accepting that its going to be hard when she gets back. She is 10. She’ll adapt. They’re all the same. Talent doesn’t disappear and at 8 there’s a very long road ahead.

Pollyputthepizzaon · 22/04/2020 20:11

He’s 8! Come on... all the other 8 year olds will be in the same boat when pools open again anyway.

Anotherdayanother2 · 22/04/2020 20:11

I think you are majorly over reacting. My DD is ranked number 1 in in GB for her age group and I am grateful for this down time; where she has time for herself and focus on other skills she didn't have time for before.

Also at 8 my DD was 'training' one hour a week.

We don't have a garden let alone a pool.

MintyMabel · 22/04/2020 20:12

763 people died today of COVID
🙄 Irrelevant. 1600 people a day died before Covid. Were people not allowed to have problems then?

It is a shame OP. DD is in a similar position and it’s not even something she can substitute another activity with. It was also really good rehabilitation for her after surgery.

But, we just have to hope this little pause won’t affect it too badly, and they can pick up where they left off.

MintyMabel · 22/04/2020 20:14

Meanwhile DD does chest X-rays on Coronavirus positive patients with inadequate PPE and risks her life very day. But ya know priorities and all that.

Again, lots of people put their lives at risk every day pre-Covid. Were we all expected to curtail our lives, put aside our problems? Did you when your DD was less at risk?

Haworthia · 22/04/2020 20:14

I thought this was going to be a thread about the death of a famous sportsperson... not an eight year old who can’t do intensive swim training.

Eight!

AJPTaylor · 22/04/2020 20:15

He is 8.
If I were minded I would spare a thought for those that have spent half a lifetime training to get to the 2020 olympics.

strawberrymedicine · 22/04/2020 20:16

Very misleading title!

Bearbehind · 22/04/2020 20:17

I also thought this was going to be about 2020 Olympic athletes

Some people really need to get a grip

Whenwillthisbeover · 22/04/2020 20:18

@MintyMabel

You are missing the point. It’s sad yeh, but in the bigger scheme Of things bloody irrelevant. In fact pathetic and makes my blood boil.

But whatever, as long as yours stay at the top level of your sport.

NerrSnerr · 22/04/2020 20:19

He's 8. He's got plenty of time, especially as the vast majority of young swimmers won't have a pool. Adam Peaty didn't even joint a swimming club until he is 9.

If you're this anxious about his achievements- talking about him being a year behind when everyone else is in the same boat it is going to be a long and stressful career for both of you!

Comefromaway · 22/04/2020 20:20

My daughter is also at vocational school, training to be a dancer.

She’s very concerned as she graduates next year and will never get the opportunity to repeat the missed training. But there are bigger things at play and there are levels to of things that can be done to maintain fitness & strength.

However I do know what it’s like fir a child to “lose” the thing that inspires passion. Autistic Ds lives to play piano. If he couldnt do that his life would be unbearable.

TKAAHUARTG · 22/04/2020 20:21

Yes. I also feel sorry for the athletes who were going to the Olympics. Not so much for an 8 year old who will be in the same position as all the other 8 year olds. You sound like a “pushy parent” ...maybe this time off will do you both good?

Quanrantini · 22/04/2020 20:21

Thought this was going to be about an actual athlete or the olympics... an 8-year old!

Talking about strength... most athletes don't start gaining until they are in their teens a year for an under 10 is really not that much considering most children perhaps take up a sport in their teens...

Sennetti · 22/04/2020 20:23

Oh wow! Get a grip ( as already said!)

How dramatic!

Crafting1Queen · 22/04/2020 20:28
Biscuit
JudyCoolibar · 22/04/2020 20:30

He's 8! He's hardly going to lose anything vital. In the meantime, it's probably been very good for him to take a step back and see there is more to life than training.

Sennetti · 22/04/2020 20:33

Should a growing 8 year old be running so much?? Where does he run? On what surface? It’s not great for growing kids/growth plates

And does he even have correct shoes?

Redcrayons · 22/04/2020 20:36

Drama llama, much? if he does have lots of natural talent, it will still be there when he goes back to swimming.

Everyone is using out on something. Keep it in perspective.

Swipe left for the next trending thread