The thing about swimming is the loneliness. It is remarkable for how isolating it is, even as a sport that takes place in arenas full of people. At the highest levels, it is a race run without the ability to even tell where you are in relation to anyone else. It is all blur and formless sound. There is the lane ahead of you, the wash around you, the kick and the turn. But in the heat of it, there is a distinct sense that you are alone in this race. You cannot hear or see your family and friends. You cannot make out the cheers or jeers. And if you glimpse your opponents, it is only because you are losing.
The Athlete Alone
