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Original poster

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:
Poppi89 · 22/04/2020 20:36

@MintyMabel

You are missing the point! OP is moaning that the pandemic has affected her 8 year old son because he's not able to go swimming which in the grand scheme of things is ridiculous!

It's like moaning you have a broken nail to someone with cancer and the saying loads of people have cancer.

I'm sure you and OP are fake posters as no one in RL is that desperate to live through their kids and you just want some fun after being bored during the lockdown.

I am fucking fuming because McDonald's is closed!! Now I am going to have to cook something myself like a peasant!!
I might have to start my own thread Hmm

Wearywithteens · 22/04/2020 20:41

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

palacegirl77 · 22/04/2020 20:41

How can he be behind anyone if no-one else is swimming??? They will all be the same. Plus if he has "natural talent" it will still be there. Plus, hes 8. Plus seriously, get some real world problems. He is alive and well and so are you. Be grateful for that.

Griselda1 · 22/04/2020 20:44

I think our world is going to change dramatically.I'm not sure when I'll ever feel like entering a swimming pool again or when these sort of activities will resume.Presumably there's transferable skills like coordination, general fitness etc which would work for other sports.
Could this be a good time for him to learn about nutrition and some basic cooking skills.

TheCanterburyWhales · 22/04/2020 20:48

At my school (teens) I have two regional swimmers, one national fencer and one national equestrian team rider.

They are missing their sports obviously but none of them are handwringing and thinking their talent is lost forever. And arguably, being 16 and 17 year olds they may have less future chance of glory.

I hope you don't transmit this drama to your son OP.

capercaillie · 22/04/2020 20:52

He’s 8...It doesn’t matter.
Time off will be no problem for him If he does want to go back. Technique if it’s good comes back quickly. I’ve had 2 2-3 month breaks from swimming due to health reasons in the last 4 years. I’m an above average swimmer - good for age. Both times I was back in the pool and at my former times within a month.

GinWithASplashOfTonic · 22/04/2020 20:54

A very misleading title I also thought that a sporting legend had died

I wasn't much older than 8 when I missed a good chunk of swimming for a year due to illness. I soon bounced back. Yabu and a drama llama. I hope you aren't passing your feelings off onto your dc

Imboredinthehouse · 22/04/2020 20:56

He’s 8
My child can’t take his GCSE’s.

EmpressoftheMundane · 22/04/2020 21:03

He's only 8. His peers are in the same position. He will be fine.

FlamedToACrisp · 22/04/2020 21:04

Why not email a well-known swimmer and ask them to recommend the right exercise routine to develop his muscles?

Agree with others that, hey, he's only 8.

MoneyForOldTurnips · 22/04/2020 21:15

I do understand where you are coming from OP. My DS is 14 and was due to attend the Gothia Cup in Sweden this year with his academy football team, which has now been cancelled.

I feel sad that he's not getting this opportunity - football is his life and has been since before he could walk but as already pointed out, all kids are in the same boat. We just have to encourage our DCs to keep up with whatever physical activities they can do to keep their fitness up.

Original poster
CoronaLonaNameChange · 22/04/2020 21:18

GrinGrin

Gosh! Sorry hadn't realised this thread would be so provocative!! I posted in haste as DS was chatting about how sad he was at lack of swimming (I know it's weird! But it honestly is his world at the moment..or was!!) I just felt sad for him! (And I know he's only 8! He's hardly going to be the next big Olympian!! But he has worked damn hard over the last 4 years - which at his age is half his life!! So it is a little sad to see it all change! He has always felt quite proud of his swimming :)!)

Of course I know it's minor changes in the grand scheme of things, and of course I care about people being severely impacted by this through loss and their own significant health impacts. I work for the NHS so see the impact of this virus daily! and yes, we lost a colleague only today, so I do have perspective.

I'm sorry the title was a bit provocative! I didn't mean to be dramatic! Sometimes when we are with our kids we just want the best for them and feel sad when they are missing out on things! :(

Thanks to those that were getting where I was coming from!

(Sorry, could've phrased the bit about the pool a bit better!!!! ;) I know no-one can afford to just buy a pool!!!! I was just thinking ...grrrr. I wish I was a millionaire then he could have his love back!)

OP posts:
Poppi89 · 22/04/2020 21:27

I get being sad for your DC and if it was something he's genuinely missing out on then you would have more messages of support and agreement but whatever he doesn't do now he can just make up for after this has finished. And as PPs have said he is in the same boat as other swimmers too.

I feel sorry for my DD that she can't go swimming, see her friends etc but I feel more sorry for DCs in year 6 or year 11 that will miss out on things that can't be done at a different time. The last day of school is a lot different when it's 6 months after you've left!

MoltonSilver · 22/04/2020 21:30

A year behind who? Nobody is swimming. They'll all have to pick up where they left off.

Fishfingersandwichplease · 22/04/2020 21:32

OP ignore the bitchy comments - #bekind is obviously old news now. You are allowed to be upset for your boy, my daughter was doing really well with her running before this happened and whilst we are going out running, she has lost her enthusiasm and passion as she isn't doing it with her peers, only me. We have all got things we have missed out on and it is ok to be sad about that - doesn't mean you don't care about the bigger picture x

Fishfingersandwichplease · 22/04/2020 21:33

OP ::can't believe the bitchy comments - #bekind is obviously old news now. You are allowed to be upset for your boy, my daughter was doing really well with her running before this happened and whilst we are going out running, she has lost her enthusiasm and passion as she isn't doing it with her peers, only me. We have all got things we have missed out on and it is ok to be sad about that - doesn't mean you don't care about the bigger picture x

1forsorrow · 22/04/2020 21:37

I feel sad that an 8 year old is training 4 times a week. Sounds miserable to me.

Original poster
CoronaLonaNameChange · 22/04/2020 21:38

Thanks fishfingers :)

OP posts:
Lycidas · 22/04/2020 21:39

I don’t know why people are mocking the child’s age. Phelps was holding national records for his age group by the time he was nine years old.

They’re probably the same unfit Mumsnetters who were outraged that people were allowed to exercise during lockdown,

Original poster
CoronaLonaNameChange · 22/04/2020 21:39

1forsorrow .. why do you feel sorry for an 8 year old swimming 4 times a week? Plenty of boys that age play football everyday. If they love it, they want to do it (wouldn't be my bag, but we are all different and I love and support him and if that's what he wants to do, fine by me )

OP posts:
Original poster
CoronaLonaNameChange · 22/04/2020 21:40

Lycidas - thanks :)

OP posts:
MyHipsDontLieUnfortunately · 22/04/2020 21:44

So elitist. All those rich kids with their 50m pools in the basement - they'll come out of this on top, mark my words.

puds11 · 22/04/2020 21:45

Chuck him in the local river for a swim

1forsorrow · 22/04/2020 21:46

I just think they need to have the chance to try lots of things at that age. When my kids were young they had a friend who was a very talented footballer, at 8 he was training regularly, then he was in a squad with a professional team. He was a teenager when he had surgery on his knee, he needed further surgery in his early 20s.

Just think what might have happened if he hadn't been doing serious training at such a young age, if his knee joints hadn't been damaged, he might have had the career in football he longed for.

1forsorrow · 22/04/2020 21:49

I also knew a talented runner, many years ago. She was "spotted" early, missed out on lots due to training, she was tipped for the olympics. One day when she was 15 or 16 she just said, "I'm not doing it anymore." Her parents and coach were devastated but she felt she had missed out on lots of stuff. Again less training and pushing early on might have resulted in her getting to the Olympics. Who knows? But the point is she resented what she felt she missed out on.