I Retired From Swimming … Now What?

Courtesy: Alexa Kutch

I recently attended a bridal shower for a close friend who would soon start the next chapter of her life: marriage. As I got myself settled at a table with semi mutual friends, comments such as “That’s the swimmer!” or “Hey, you’re the swimmer” reminded me that I am distinctly recognizable. In a normal year, I would have been used to this recognition, but this particular interaction carried more weight because this was the first time I had been called a swimmer after declaring my retirement from the sport. Upon self-reflection, I soon realized that up until now, swimming had been my whole identity for the past 15 years and I was not mentally or emotionally ready to give that up. When you have dedicated your life to a sport like swimming, can you ever truly be ready for it to end?

With the conclusion of the Olympic Trials (which I attended), it was reported that a number of swimmers, whether amateur or professional, were hanging up their cap and goggles for one last time. In some instances, COVID-19 delayed the inevitability of moving on to the next chapter(s) of our lives. For me, the first step in this transition was appreciating my old identity and accepting my new one. Consequently, the second step would be understanding that this would not be a quick and easy process. After all, it can be hard to let go of something that has been such a steady norm in your life. The third step centered around allowing myself to mentally and physically regroup. With how strenuous of a commitment swimming can be, it was nice to finally have some time to let the mind refocus and the body recuperate.

A great and important way to gather your thoughts and emotions after retirement is through expressive reflection. Depending on how many years you have been involved with the sport might determine just how much reflecting you need. The great thing about reflection is that there are many different and creative ways that this can be done. And if there is one thing I have learned about swimmers over the years, it’s how smart and creative we really are! While I have chosen to write, others can choose to reflect through art (like making a swim T-shirt blanket) or through reading (perhaps an Olympic swimmer’s autobiography). No matter what way you choose to reflect, it is simply a relaxing and beneficial way to comfortably release feelings about your time as a swimmer and your upcoming adventure as a swammer.

Speaking of swammers, I love how this word has slowly made its way into the English language as a clear indication of one’s completion with the sport. A fun exercise I love to do as a recently declared swammer is going over the pros and cons of no longer swimming. I have provided my list below, but feel free to add your own!

Pros:

• Never having to go through the physical and emotional toll of putting on a tech suit
• Not being expected to wake up before the sun to jump into a freezing pool
• Not having to miss out on social events because of practice or a meet
• Being able to have a life after swimming

Cons:

• Having to figure out how to work out on your own
• Not being able to consume a copious amount of calories
• Using swimming as an excuse to get out of things (you know you have done it)
• Too much freedom and not knowing what to do with yourself #NARPlife

While the list of pros and cons may go on and on, there are a few lessons from the sport that will always stick with us. I think we can all agree that while the journey with the sport was never easy, it was definitely worth it. The stories, friendships, and life lessons swimming has given us is something we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. At the very least, we will never really be done with the sport; whether that be coaching on the pool deck, signing up to officiate a meet, or tuning in to watch the next generation of swimmers compete on the local, national, or global stage. At the end of the day, it’s taking pride in tackling a sport as draining yet rewarding as swimming.

ABOUT ALEXA KUTCH

Alexa Kutch is a recent graduate of Drexel University and a former student athlete of the Division I Drexel Swimming and Diving team. During her athletic career as a Dragon, Alexa was able to make history in the Colonial Athletic Conference, becoming the first woman swimmer to sweep the backstroke events all four years of eligibility. Additionally, she competed at high level meets such as the NCAA Swimming Championships, Phillips 66 National Championships, and US Olympic Trials. These accomplishments got her a nomination for the NCAA Woman of the Year. Having recently graduated from Drexel, she now coaches at Emmaus Aquatic Club and Emmaus High School. She plans on beginning her career as a secondary English teacher in the upcoming Fall.