Entering high school, I was a stranger to the gym. I rarely even set foot around gyms until my swimming career required it. I never felt the need or the motivation to lift weights or sweat around other people, but as I joined the high school swim team, I was greeted by many strongly built guys that truly knew their ways around the gym. The only thing that startled me was how short they were. I was quite taller than many seniors who seemed to be much stronger than me. Most importantly, my good friend Cole had inches on his brother who was 3 years older than him, but Cole had half the muscle. Also, many of these guys sported ice packs all around their body and seemed to be constantly injured. The constant strain of swimming and lifting weights had truly taken it’s toll on these guys, resulting in some worn down swimmers.
Weightlifting in teens is risky business. Improper technique or lack of adult supervision can lead to stunted growth, countless injuries, chipped bones, and lower back pain, leading many concerned adults and coaches to avoid this training. Twice in my life already, I witnessed heavy weights being dropped on fingers and splitting them right open. This …show more content…
Weightlifting, for me, is a great stress reliever and is a way to build my self confidence and learn to set goals for myself. Working alongside upperclassmen for the past two years has taught me a lot about myself and has benefitted me greatly. From 5:45-7:30 AM twice a week, I struggle in the gym alongside my team with the goal of being the best version of myself that I can be. This isn’t an easy lifestyle, but nobody told me it would be. Being part of swimming and going to the gym has greatly improved my work ethic and has lead me to excel on projects and tests in school. Working alongside teammates has built concrete friendships around shared blood, sweat, and