News

Are You Swimming to Win or are You Swimming Not to Lose? (And Why the Difference Matters.)   When we are kids the world seems like it is at our beck-and-call. There is no dream too large to consider and no goal too unrealistic. With time in our favor, and the strong wind of youthful ignorance at our backs, we feel like the world is ours to conquer.   But as we get older, the more and more people tell us that something cannot be done. That it shouldn’t be...

Happy #TBT Throw Back Thursday!   Do you remember this CVST crew from 2009?  

5 Mental Hacks to Get You Through Your Next Swim Practice   We all have those workouts where we feel like the wall of resistance is going to completely collapse on us. Whether it’s because coach has drawn up a set with a cascading and never-ending series of brackets, our stroke feels off, or we had a lousy day, there will be moments where that workout looks flat-out impossible and pointless.   Here are 5 tactics to push past those feelings of resistance and get the absolute most of your...

What to Say to Disappointment By Mike Gustafson / Correspondent   In sports, clichés are common, but sometimes, they serve a good purpose. Like before your teammate is about to step onto the blocks: You want to offer a cheer, and clichés come to mind. “You can do this.” “I believe in you.” “Just do this.” “Let’s go.”    These are what I call “good clichés” -- clichés that do no harm, clichés that motivate clichés that cheer. These good clichés are useful – they’re easy to remember, they’re positive,...

Katie Ledecky Leads 2015 USA Swimming Golden Goggle Awards Nominees   Click here to cast your vote.   After winning five gold medals last month at the 2015 FINA World Championships, Katie Ledecky (Bethesda, Md.) leads the way with five nominations for the 2015 USA Swimming Golden Goggle Awards, set for Sunday, Nov. 22, at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE.  The nation’s top swimmers and coaches are nominated in eight categories for the 12th Golden Goggle Awards, the annual celebration honoring the sport’s top performances of the year....

10 Things Swimmers Say to Each Other They Can't Say to Thier "Normal" Friends   Swimmers have a language unto themselves. The way we talk to each other is different from the way we talk to our non-swimmer friends. Here are ten examples:   1.  “Oh! I didn’t recognize you with your clothes on!” Swimmers spend somewhere between 20-30 hours a week nearly naked. We get so used to seeing each other with wet hair, wet skin, and bare midriffs that we don’t always recognize each other when fully clothed......

5 Swimming Tricks Every Swimmer Should Know   In every sport, there are certain tricks that you learn by participating. For instance, every good basketball player knows how to twirl a ball on their finger. Swimmers are no different.   These are Tricks Every Swimmer Should Know but your coach won’t be teaching you. You’ll have to learn on your own. If you don’t know these tricks by now, you should make it your goal to learn them in the New Year.   5 Tricks with Videos

CVST Meet Volunteers   We hold several meets per year and we are responsible for running these meets.  Meets don’t run themselves.  The most important people in the meet are of course the swimmer and an official to start the race; but the timer holds the same value as the prior two.      CVST Parents are expected to participate with the running of the meet.  We can’t sit on the sidelines.  Timers have the best view of the meet as they are sitting the closest to the lanes.  It’s...

How Has Swimming Impacted Your Life? #SwIMPACT   We want to know! USA Swimming wants to share your story on how swimming has positively impacted your life or the life of someone you know. The best stories will be promoted on usaswimming.org  throughout 2016! To submit your #SwIMPACT story email kraney@usaswimming.org.  

To Thrive, Many Young Female Athletes Need A Lot More Food   Participation in sports by girls and young women has soared in recent decades — by 560 percent among high school students since 1972, and 990 percent among college students, according to the Women's Sports Foundation. Highly committed young female athletes now run track and play soccer, basketball, water polo and other demanding sports that require strong bodies.   But many girls aren't eating enough to satisfy the physical demands of those sports, scientists say, and that's putting them...