Nobody is looking at you. Everyone is too busy figuring out their own stroke.
And the water genuinely does not care.
The people who have said something about your body are not in the pool doing the work. You are.
That automatically makes you the athlete in the room. Not them.
Get in the water. You belong there.
These words of wisdom come from Aishwarya Jagdish, an Indian triathlete on Threads.
I came across her post shortly after a particularly busy shift at work. All three pools were packed because it’s March Break in Ontario.
I was scanning for safety but couldn’t help but notice how relaxed people were about wearing what made them happy, instead of what media tells you is “right”. I admired the huge variety of people wearing everything from tiny bikinis to swim dresses, T-shirts and leggings on all different bodies.
Most were there to play with their kids rather than swimming in the lap pool, but the principle holds whether you are training for a race or building sandcastles at the beach.
I admit I notice what people are wearing at the beach. I notice that I see more and more variety of choices than I did a few years back. Then, everyone seemed to be aiming to look good for an swimsuit ad. Now, not so much. I see all sizes, shapes, genders & ages in all sorts of beach wear. It makes me comfortable with my wrinkly old body. I think people are beginning to listen to you!