First of all, do you really love your swimming? I hope so, because the sure way to beat fear is through love. OK, OK, let me explain. Anyone who really 'hates' competing at a particular pool is actually feeling fear when they swim there - and swimming with fear means they will almost always 'bomb out' there. Right? Whereas the Club swimmers from that particular pool (who think it's the greatest pool in the world!) will always do well there. Why? Because they love it.
Another example - a swimmer 'hates' competing against a particular competitor. Why? Because deep down they fear this competitor - and while they fear them, they will never beat them. Yet other swimmers who get on fine with this competitor will never have any problem beating them, because they will not be wasting their precious energy worrying about them!
My point is that Fear saps your energy, whereas Love energizes you. In short, loves beats fear every time. Let me show you how to use this principle better. Whenever you dislike any of the conditions at a meet - the pool, the warm-up pool, the competitors, coaches, etc you must visualize in your mind the exact opposite. The only way to succeed over conditions you dislike is by regularly imagining that you really 'love' the conditions - the pool, enjoying the competitors, just feeling how much FUN the whole experience is going to be. When you do this, the fear will slowly but surely evaporate and disappear.
If the whole meet is an ORDEAL to one swimmer, and great FUN to another - you tell me, who's going to swim better? It's a no-brainer. The swimmer who's relaxed and enjoying the meet - including ALL of its conditions, such as the pool and your competitors. Imagine every meet being a fun, positive experience, and don't waste your precious energy hating the conditions - we ALL know who wins the race between swimmers with a positive and a negative attitude.
The Mind controls the body, and the mind is unlimited. The best of success,
Craig Townsend
