by
Olivier Poirier-Leroy
Here are 10 motivational swimming quotes, from the greatest swimmer of all time, Michael Phelps—
Phelps sets him apart by the competition by willing to dream the impossible, by willing to stretch the borders of what is considered possible in the sport of swimming. Ultimately his swimming would demonstrate that limits are made to be not only broken, but completely disregarded.
SEE ALSO: Michael Phelps By the Numbers
Phelps understood that excellence at the peak of the sport was more mental than anything else. He knew that he would have to be zeroed in on his swim and tune out the distractions; whether it was the competition, the media, or even his own expectations.
Phelps had a work-horse ethic when it came to putting in work. He trained 7 days a week because that extra day (most swimmers typically train 6 days per week) would give him the edge he needed.
This mindset is precisely what set Phelps apart from the competition. An unwillingness to accept the status quo, a refusal to allow others expectations of him (and ultimately of themselves) to dictate what he was capable of.
While Phelps’ career was storied, it was far from perfect. There was the goggle fill-up in his 200m butterfly at the Beijing Olympics. His two brushes with the law. A lack of motivation and focus following the high of winning 8 golds in 2008. In each case he bounced back better then ever.
Swimmers know this feeling. The silence, the aloneness, with nothing but your thoughts. Slipping into the water is rebirth, its zen, it’s quality time spent with yourself.
Phelps knew that his success was in large part due to his consistency. He showed up every day to the pool ready to work, and it should be the same with you. Be willing to put in the work every single day. Success isn’t a part-time gig, nor is it something you stumble upon. It is a task you devote yourself to every single day.
Something awful happens when our goals don’t pan out. We begin to buy into the doubts, the nagging self-doubt that tells us that we aren’t as good as we think we are, we aren’t that talented, that we don’t deserve success. Your plans will go awry at times. It is specifically then that you must dare to continue to dream.
Phelps knew this better than most. To stretch your concepts of what you are capable requires setting hard goals. Some with smaller imaginations will try and knock you for dreaming big. Don’t give them the privilege.
We’ll see.
Subscribe to the YourSwimLog.com newsletter and get tips and advice on how to swim faster every weekday morning, straight to your inbox.
Join 33,000+ swimmers, coaches, and swim parents learning what it takes to swim like a boss.
Unsubscribe anytime. Email will never be shared or sold.
Olivier Poirier-Leroy Olivier Poirier-Leroy is the founder of YourSwimLog.com. He is an author, former national level swimmer, two-time Olympic Trials qualifier, and swim coach.
Bob Bowman, head coach of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, and Michael Phelps’ long time coach, shares what he believes are the core characteristics of champions, whether in the pool, the field, or the boardroom. In this 18 minute speech given for Chicago Ideas Week, Bowman talks about what it
The Michael Phelps Diet – Fact or Fiction? We tend to build up our heroes and stars into the stuff of myth and legend. Michael Phelps was no different. From lauding his built-for-swimming-physique, to his surreal talent and innate feel for the water, it is easy to forget that most
For years Michael Phelps freestyle was a dominant presence on the international scene. He held the 200 metre freestyle world record until Paul Biedermann came along and broke it during the super-suit frenzy of 2009, and was also a key piece on the US men’s 4×100 freestyle relay (also breaking
Get a behind the scenes look at Phelps’ dryland training in the lead-up to the London Games.
Everything you ever wanted to know about Michael Phelps, the greatest swimmer of all time.
