All of us swim enthusiasts have watched countless interviews of our idols as, a huge grin on their faces, they explain to everyone how much their success means. We have heard stories of triumphs over obstacles, tales of the pride they feel at being able to represent their country, and have seen heart warming medal ceremonies.
The past few months have been incredible for the swim community as athletes become Olympians and as the 2016 Games quickly approach. The media has exploded with facts and footage centered on how the Rio-bound athletes are feeling, but what about the athletes who are watching from behind the television screen – what does the Olympic hype mean to them?
For one (and this is no surprise) swimmers worldwide are definitely starting to get animated. I have friends messaging me with medalist predictions, and my social media is filled with coverage about everything from the venue in Rio to the athletes competing at the Games. We may be a considerably smaller community than other sports, and swimming may not garner as much publicity, but we definitely make up for it in the passion and excitement that our fans and athletes share. The approaching Olympics means being able to unify as one for our sport, and show our pride over all sorts of…
