If you swim competitively, I hope you’re reading regularly. Regardless of how much time you spend swimming, your summer might be hectic and you could forget about reading.
Swimmers often treat reading as a luxury, and while there is only so much time in the day, it is well worth cultivating the habit of reading regularly, even if it’s only once a week. There’s also nothing wrong with improving your performance by learning from others.
I’ve been encouraging people to read more for many years, and in that time I’ve read many books, mostly about sport.
Below I have listed the 5 essential books for competitive swimmers; these should make a decent part-time library for any swimmer wanting to enhance their technique, speed, conditioning, etc.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Becoming a Supple Leopard 2nd Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Resolving Pain | Best Overall |  |
| The Little Book of Talent: 52 Tips | Budget Pick |  |
| Age Is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Stage in Your Life | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Becoming a Supple Leopard 2nd Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Resolving Pain
Pros:
- Has a 4.7 star rating on Amazon
- Reviewers said it helps them not only with their swimming, but with their other training, too
The author is Kelly Starrett, Mobility Wizard and owner of San Francisco CrossFit. If you want to become more efficient and mobile in your swimming, this is the book to read.
Starrett's book has it all, from simple-to-do exercises to improve your flexibility and alignment, which will improve your efficiency and cause less harm to your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This book is packed with over 100 exercises.
Come back tomorrow for more Swimming Reviews and MySwimPro giveaways!
2. No Limits: The Will to Succeed
Author: Michael Phelps
When he was a boy, Michael Phelps and his siblings used to throw trash in the pool and swing from the diving board. "A lot of crazy stunts went on that I wouldn't recommend kids do," he writes (with Peter E. Jobson).
In fact, his mother banned swimming at the age of seven when his youngest brother, Boomer, almost drowned.
3. The Little Book of Talent: 52 Tips
Pros:
- Clearly written
- Useful for people of all ages
- Builds self-confidence
Book author Daniel Coyle describes a simple method to unlock your mental potential by using a mixture of focus, motivation, optimism, and pleasure. The approach that Coyle uses is that you get the things you think about. His advice is to use positive affirmations to realise your goals. Coyle's technique is encouraging.
Coyle tells his readers that they are able to learn anything at any age. He says that they can improve their skills by breaking tasks down into small steps and then practising. The approach of the author includes the following steps: adopt the beginner's mind, practice with pleasure, measure with feedback, learn how to learn, improve attention, and create a community of friends. There are several fascinating stories included.
You can use this book for improving your skills in sports, business, social situations and personal life.
4. Age Is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Stage in Your Life
Pros:
- Realistic
- Compete with yourself, not others
- Rich with stories of athletes from all backgrounds and activities
- Inspiring
- Motivating
- Lots of great exercises and worksheets
- Easy to read
- Positive
Cons:
- Some people may find their life circumstances hard to relate to
- Not great for training information
- Main focus is middle-aged adults but exercises could be applicable for younger and older swimmers
This is a great book for swimmers who are thinking of or are considering an extended break from the sport. There is also a lot of food for thought for coaches in this book.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the essential items for swimming in a competition?
The first thing to remember is to keep it light and compact. Not only will you have to carry your bag with you to the block, then to the pool, and finally to your seat, but you may end up needing to carry it around the pool deck as well.
For short course and international swimming, a bag with many small compartments would be best. This will allow you to get everything you need for your event, and keep everything in the one place.
Swimsuits, goggles, caps, and clipping devices are important to remember so that you don’t have to worry about those while you’re taking your blocks. These items can get lost easily, so keeping them close to you is the best way to keep track of them.
Other smaller items such as grooming and sun protection can be added to your bag, leaving the space in the main compartment for your caps, goggles, and suits.
What competitive swimming teaches?
Let’s start with a story about my brother. As a competitive swimmer, he participated in the Japanese national championships and was no stranger to being put under pressure. One year, for example, one of the heats put such pressure on him that he ended up throwing up on the edge of the pool before walking into the water. Once in the pool, however, the stress disappeared and he became a different person. He swam strong and finished out his race despite the difficult conditions.
Another time, when getting ready for an important swim meet, a coach changed up the timing and the distance of his finals swims, which made him nervous. In fact, he was so nervous that he went to the bathroom just before each one. Yet, as soon as the race got underway, he went to work, fell into his groove and did what he needed to do. He ended up winning a medal.
What every swimmer needs?
We don't know about you but we swim for fun. Although for some it's a profession, for most of us it's a sport that we practice few times a week and we love it.
Yes, we are competitive in our races and we want to swim faster every time we compete but we do it mostly for fun and to keep fit. And we all agree that swimming is something perfect for relax, so it's good to have something interesting that can give us some inspiration.
Although, if you want to build a highly-qualified swimmer, these books are your best bet.
How do you motivate a competitive swimmer?
Motivating your competitive swimmer can be challenging at times, especially when your swimmer is often training by herself or in a competitive environment. Here is where you as the swim parent become the greatest asset to your swimmer. Proving to your swimmer that you are there to support her in any way possible will help her in practice and in competitions. Here are 5 essential books for competitive swimmers.
Make sure to support your swimmer at home on dry land, when she is training, and especially in a swim meet! Encourage her to swim her best races at a swim meet and celebrate all of her victories.
Conclusion
So what are the best books for swimmers of all ages? Nobody has honed their skills in the sport of swimming without nurturing a solid passion for reading. As a swimmer, you tend to know it's beneficial to read smart about the sport, so a good book might come with some serious life lessons that will shape you as a swimmer and a person. Here's a review of 5 of the best books for swimmers.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Becoming a Supple Leopard 2nd Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Resolving Pain | Best Overall | |
| The Little Book of Talent: 52 Tips | Budget Pick | |
| Age Is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Stage in Your Life | Upgrade Pick | |