“On redefining success, finding multiple “whys”, filling my cup, and learning to love the hard days”
Redefining Success
For a long time, I defined and measured my success in sport purely by outcomes. Time on a scoreboard, team selection, and results. If those things were going well, everything felt correct.
Over time, I’ve realised how fragile this definition of success is. Results come and go, motivation isn’t constant, and there will be periods in your career where progression feels stagnant.
Redefining what success looks like has been a huge, pivotal shift in my journey. Success for me now is much more focused on process rather than on outcome. Being able to take a step back from the time on a scoreboard and see and have trust in the bigger picture.
This hasn’t meant lowering my standards; it has meant creating a foundation that’s strong enough to support both performance and longevity in the sport – and ironically, it has allowed me to perform better.
Filling My Cup: On and Off the Pool Deck
Like so many athletes, I went through a period where my sport became closely intertwined with my identity. Swimming wasn’t just something I did – but felt like it was who I was. Without really realising it, I let my mood be dictated by how a training session or race had gone. A good session meant a good day and vice versa.
Over time, I’ve learned how limiting this can be. With your identity tied so tightly to your sport, every setback feels heavier and more personal. There’s no separation or buffer.
Learning to invest in life beyond the pool deck has been a massively important part of my journey. Finding enjoyment in things unrelated to sport, nurturing friendships, spending time with family, and simply being more present in life outside of performance has reminded me that there is a whole other side to me, not just as an athlete but as a person.
These things don’t take away from performance, but rather, they enhance it. When my cup is full, I’m able to show up to training as the best version of myself. More grounded and more resilient.
Knowing who you are beyond the field of play, I believe, is one of the greatest strengths an athlete can have.
The Power of Having Multiple Whys
This lesson really landed for me after a race I wasn’t pleased with. It was one of those moments in sport where a single result has you questioning why you even do it.
Afterwards, it was a conversation with my coach where he asked, why do I swim? Why do I continually show up to training day after day? He spoke to me about the importance of having multiple “whys” – multiple reasons for doing what you do.
And it’s a perspective that has really stuck with me.
When sport is built around a single why – especially one tied to outcomes – it becomes incredibly fragile. The moment something doesn’t go to plan, whether that be a bad race, an injury, or missing a team selection, that one why disappears.
Having multiple whys gives you something to lean on in those moments. When one aspect of your sport isn’t going particularly well, there are other reasons that can carry you through.
Each athlete will have their own set of “whys”, some I have personally identified that are truly important to me are…
- Consistency. No matter what else is going on outside of the pool, it’s a place that gives me structure and space, and allows me to switch off from outside life.
- The people. The teammates I train alongside and the coaches I work with. These relationships are for life, and people I have such admiration for and learnt so much from.
- Travel. Swimming has given me the opportunity to travel the world and experience places I may never have visited otherwise.
- Growth. Not just as an athlete, but as a person – developing life skills such as patience, resilience, and how to sit with discomfort.
Learning to Love the Grind
One thing I have learnt to normalise is the fact that some days, training will feel like a drag.
There will be days when the alarm goes off, and the last thing I want to do is get out of bed. Days when I feel flat, sore, or unmotivated. And that’s okay – that’s actually normal. I’ve learnt these days aren’t a sign of failure or that I don’t enjoy my sport, often, they’re just a sign that training is doing what it’s meant to do – working you.
What matters on those days is that you show up and give your version of 100%. Some days, 100% will be flying, hitting every pace time and feeling amazing. Other days, it’s simply getting through the session with effort and intention.
Both count. And it’s knowing that both are contributing to something bigger.
In saying that, some of my most surprising sessions, and even races, have come on days when I have felt terrible beforehand. I’ve had warm-ups where I couldn’t hit a single pace time, only to end up having some of my best swims. These experiences have shown me not to over-interpret how I feel and to never count yourself out of a good result just because you don’t feel your best.
Enjoyment doesn’t mean loving every session. It means finding purpose in showing up. It means appreciating the routine, the effort, and the quiet satisfaction of giving a training session your all.
I always try to remind myself that swimming is something I get to do, not something that’s forced upon me. At the end of the day, it’s still a hobby. A demanding one at times, yes, but one I choose because it adds value to my life.
By redefining success, taking time to fill my cup, having multiple reasons why I swim, and an appreciation for the trenches, I have found a version of sport that feels sustainable and genuinely fulfilling. And in my experience, that’s often where the best performances tend to come from.
