Swimming Essay Example For Students

Swimming Essay The sun sleeps as the desolate city streets await the morning rush hour. Driven by an inexplicable compulsion, I enter the building along with ten other swimmers, inching my way toward the cold, dark locker room of the Esplanada Park Pool. One by one, we slip into our still-damp drag suits and make a mad dash through the chill of the morning air, stopping only to grab pull-buoys and kickboards on our way to the pool. Nighttime temperatures in coastal California dip into the high forties, but our pool is artificially warmed to seventy-nine degrees; the temperature differential propels an eerie column of steam up from the waters surface, producing the spooky ambience of a werewolf movie. Next comes the shock. We will write a custom essay on Swimming specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Headfirst immersion into the tepid water sends our hearts racing, and we respond with a quick set of warm-up laps. As we finish, our coach emerges from the fog. He offers no friendly accolades, just a rigid regimen of sets, intervals, and exhortations. Thus starts another workout. 4,500 yards to go, then a quick shower and a five-minute drive to school. Then its back to the pool; the afternoon training schedule features an additional 5,500 yards. Tomorrow, we start over again. The objective is to cut our times by another tenth of a second. The end goal is to achieve that tiny, unexplainable difference at the end of a race that separates success from failure, greatness from mediocrity. Somehow we accept the pitchotherwise, wed still be deep in our mattresses, slumbering beneath our blankets. In this sport, the antagonist is time. Coaches spend hours in specialized clinics, analyze the latest research on training technique, and experiment with workout schedules in an attempt to defeat time. Yet there are no shortcuts to winning, and workouts are agonizing. I took part in my first Swimming Essay race when I was ten years old. My parents, fearing injury, directed my athletic interests away from ice hockey and into the pool. Three weeks into my new swimming endeavor, I somehow persuaded my coach to let me enter the annual age group meet. To his surprise (and mine), I pulled out an A time. I furthered my achievements by winning Top 16 awards for various age groups, setting club records, and being named National First Team All-American in the 100-Butterfly and Second Team All-American in the 200-Medley. I have since been elevated to the Senior Championship level, which means the competition now includes world-class swimmers. I am aware that making finals will not be easy from hereat this level, success is measured by mere tenths of a second. In addition, each new level brings extra requirements such as elevated weight training, longer weekend training sessions, and more travel from home. Time with friends is increasingly spent in the pursuit of the next swimming objective. Sometimes, in the solitude of the laps, my thoughts transition to events in my personal life. This year, my grandmother suffered a reoccurrence of cancer, which has spread to her lungs. She had always been driven by good spirits and independence, but suddenly my family had to accept the fact that she now faces a limited timeline. A few weeks later, on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, my grandfatherwho lives in Japanlearned he had stomach cancer. He has since undergone successful surgery, but we are aware that a full recovery is not guaranteed. When I first learned that they were both struck with cancer, I felt as if my own objective, to cut my times by fractions of a second, seemed irrelevant, even ironic, given the urgency of their mutual goals: to prolong life itself. Yet we have learned to draw on each others strengths for supporttheir fortitude helps me overcome my struggles while my swimming achievements provide them with a vicarious sense of victory. When I share my latest award or triumph story, they smile with pride, as if they themselves had stood on the award stand. .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72 , .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72 .postImageUrl , .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72 , .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72:hover , .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72:visited , .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72:active { border:0!important; } .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72:active , .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72 .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u41b4f022f74c3f75da0bc917979dbb72:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Genetic Diversity In Agriculture Essay I have the impression that I would have to be a grandparent to understand what my medals mean to them. My grandparents strength has also shored up my determination to succeed. I have learned that, as in swimming, lifes successes often come in . Swimming Essay Example For Students Swimming Essay Swimming Essay is a competitive and recreational activity consisting of various motions that propel the body through the water. Swimming is considered by most experts to be one of the best forms of physical exercise. When practiced properly the activity utilizes most of the bodys muscles and is an excellent conditioner for the cardiovascular system. Much of the wear and tear on the human body that is sometimes associated with land sports, such as running, is reduced in swimming because of the bodys buoyancy in water. Physical rehabil-itation therapy involving swimming is not uncommon. International competition in swimmingas well as in its sister activity, DIVINGis governed by the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA). Swimming has been part of the Olympics since its modern-day inception in 1896. A variety of strokes is used in swimming, each requiring different motions. Each also varies in the physical demand placed on the swimmer and degree of speed and efficiency offered. Crawl. The crawl is not an official FINA-recognized stroke; in events where the contestants are allowed to swim freestyle, the crawl is universally used. We will write a custom essay on Swimming specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The stroke, which is performed chest-down in the water, involves carrying one arm forward out of the water to nearly full extension, while the other arm is below the surface making a pulling movement that propels the body through the water. The flutter kick is used to add some forward thrust, but it serves mainly as a stabilizing motion. Breathing is accomplished by turning the head to one side or the other and inhaling, then turning the head so that the face is immersed and exhaling the spent air. The breathing is repeated at regular intervals in accord with the pace of the stroke. Backstroke. The backstroke is similar to the crawl but is performed on the back and without the crawls breathing requirement. One arm is carried over the head out of the water to prepare for the next stroke, while the arm in the water completes the forward-pulling motion. The flutter kick is used, as in the crawl. Bibliography: . Swimming Essay Example For Students Swimming Essay Learning something new can be a scary experience. One of the hardest things Ive ever had to do was learn how to swim. I was always afraid of the water, but I decided that Swimming Essay was an important skill that I should learn. I also thought it would be good exercise and help me to become physically stronger. What I didnt realize was that learning to swim would also make me a more confident person. New situations always make me a bit nervous, and my first swimming lesson was no exception. After I changed into my bathing suit in the locker room, I stood timidly by the side of the pool waiting for the teacher and other students to show up. After a couple of minutes the teacher came over. She smiled and introduced herself, and two more students joined us. Although they were both older than me, they didnt seem to be embarrassed about not knowing how to swim. I began to feel more at ease. We will write a custom essay on Swimming specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We got into the pool, and the teacher had us put on brightly colored water wings to help us stay afloat. One of the other students, May, had already taken the beginning class once before, so she took a kickboard and went splashing off by herself. The other student, Jerry, and I were told to hold on to the side of the pool and shown how to kick for the breaststroke. One by one, the teacher had us hold on to a kickboard while she pulled it through the water and we kicked. Pretty soon Jerry was off doing this by himself, traveling at a fast clip across the short end of the pool. Things were not quite that easy for me, but the teacher was very patient. After a few more weeks, when I seemed to have caught on with my legs, she taught me the arm strokes. Now I had two things to concentrate on, my arms and my legs. I felt hopelessly uncoordinated. Sooner than I imagined, however, things began to feel ;right; and I was able to swim! It was a wonderful free feeling like flying, maybe to be able to shoot across the water. Learning to swim was not easy for me, but in the end my persistence paid off. Not only did I learn how to swim and to conquer my fear of the water, but I also learned something about learning. Now when I am faced with a new situation I am not so nervous. I may feel uncomfortable to begin with, but I know that as I practice being in that situation and as my skills get better; I will feel more and more comfortable. It is a wonderful, free feeling when you achieve a goal you have set for yourself. . Swimming Essay Example For Students Swimming Essay Swimming Essay Swimming is the act of moving through the water by using the arms, legs, and body in motions called strokes. The most common strokes are the crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and sidestroke. Some scientists believe that human beings are born with an instinctive ability to use their arms and legs to stay afloat. That instinct, however, disappears within a few months after birth. Later in life many children and adults learn to swim in order to be safe around the water, to have fun, and to participate in competition. We will write a custom essay on Swimming specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Most people learn to swim by imitating others, most often their parents, brothers, sisters, and friends. Most youngsters in also take lessons at swim clubs, community centers, schools, and recreational facilities. In addition, the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) and the American Red Cross sponsor programs that teach children about water safety. Instructors teach students skills that will make them safe, efficient, and confident swimmers. Beginners first put their heads in the water and blow bubbles by exhaling. Gradually, students progress to floating, treading water, and ultimately, learning the techniques of the major strokes. Individuals should not swim in conditions that their ability and experience will not allow them to handle. For inexperienced recreational swimmers, many safety hazards exist, even in a pool. These hazards include misjudging a dive and hitting ones head on the bottom, holding ones breath too long, becoming exhausted, and experiencing sudden cramps while too far from shore or other swimmers. The history of swimming dates back thousands of years. One of the earliest representations of swimming is an ancient Egyptian wall relief that shows soldiers of Pharaoh Ramses II. Swimming was very important in ancient Greece and Rome, especially as a form of training for warriors. In Japan, competitions were held as early as the 1st century BC. In Europe, swimming was less popular during the Middle Ages, swimming didnt pick up until the 19th century. In the late 19th century amateur swimming clubs began conducting competitions in the United States and Britain. In the United States, colleges and universities such as Yale University, Indiana University, and the University of Southern California played an important role in spreading interest in swimming as a competitive sport. In 1875 Matthew Webb of Great Britain became the first person to swim across the English Channel. Webb swam between Dover, England, and the coast of France near Calais, where the channel is more than 20 mi in width. By 1896 swimming had become well established. It was one of the sports at the first modern Olympic Games, held that year in Athens, Greece. Despite the popularity of swimming as a whole, the use of performance-enhancing drugs has cast a shadow over some of the individual accomplishments in the sport. Some athletes were even secretly given drugs, without their knowledge, their coaches. Many of these athletes later suffered major health problems. . Swimming Essay Example For Students Swimming Essay This Essay will illustrate some of the basic aspects of scuba diving. It will show the steps involved in assembling the scuba gear. The price range of scuba gear. The basic principles of diving, and were to go to get certified in scuba diving. It will also reveal some fun things that can be done while diving . The assembly of the scuba gear is very simple. First have your tank filled to the recommended amount of pressure (usually 3000 psi). Take the tank with the valve handle to the right, and set it in front of you. Next take the Buoyancy Compensator (B.C.) and attach it to the tank by putting the straps around the tank and tightening them. After the tank is secure, check to make sure that the Oring on the valve of the tank is in place and in good condition. loosen the first stage of the regulator and place it over the valve of the tank. Then tighten the first stage securely, but not overly tight. Attach your octopus to the B.C. Then Pick up the pressure gauge and point it away from the body, and others. We will write a custom essay on Swimming specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Turn the handle on the tank, to supply the regulator and gauges with air pressure. The gauges are pointed away from the body to avoid injury if the gauge were to malfunction. Listen for any leaks, and read the gauge and make sure that it is some what close to the pressure that was put in to the tank. Last you need to inflate the B.C.,and purge the regulator to make sure that they work properly. The gear is now ready to be used. Scuba gear is very affordable. Scuba gear can be purchased new for as little as $299. For $299 you can get a regulator, B.C., and a pressure gauge, this is the bare minimum of what you need(Divers unlimited). Next up is $499, for this amount you get all above plus a depth gauge, and for $589 you also get a octopus(Divers Unlimited). There are many other setups you can purchase for around the same amount, and more. I found Divers unlimited to have the best over all prices. There are many places to get certified in scuba diving, but there are also many things to consider. First, there is the price, usually from $150 for a basic course up to $400 for a private course. The $150 course offered at BB Aquatic Adventures, Inc. consists of Three to 4 class sessions and two to 3 pool sessions. It also includes 4 ocean dives. The $400 course offered at Urge 2 Submerge can be completed in as little as four days, and is worked completely around your schedule. It consist of 9 hours of class room study and 9 hours of pool time. It also includes 4 ocean dives. With all of the courses the ocean dives must be completed in pairs of two dives, on 2 separate days. The Scuba gear is suppled with all of the courses with the exception of a mask, fins, snorkel, weight belt, and weights. There are a variety of price between the above that offer various times and days to meet your needs. The one major rule of diving is to always breath. This means never hold your breath. At different depths in the water air is compressed in your lungs. This pressure can cause serious injury if it were to build up in the lungs due to a sudden rise in depth. For every 33 feet in depth the air in your lungs decreases by half. Thus the air in the lungs doubles for every 33 feet that one rises. So if you take a full breath and then rise up in the water with out exhaling, the pressure increases and may explode the lungs. There are many fun things to do while scuba diving. My favorite is to collect tropical fish for my fish tank. Tropical fish are very expensive, but not all that hard to catch. .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515 , .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515 .postImageUrl , .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515 , .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515:hover , .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515:visited , .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515:active { border:0!important; } .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515:active , .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515 .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4d1ec2e1637c829cdb1f74ab5c775515:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: F227 Essay all you need is a net , tickle stick, gloves, and bait bucket. The net should be make out of some kind of transparent plastic with small enough holes so .