Rediscovering the Competitive Edge: My Journey Back to the Pool

For as long as I can remember, competition has been woven into the fabric of my life. From an early age, I found myself in the water, carving out a path that would eventually lead to national titles in swimming and later, an illustrious career in water polo. Over 15 years ago, I stood on the podium as a national champion in two events - the gruelling 200m butterfly and the endurance-testing 1500m freestyle. Those moments of triumph were the culmination of countless hours of training, determination, and an unrelenting competitive spirit.

But life, as it often does, threw some unexpected challenges my way. After years of dedication to swimming, I transitioned to water polo, where I proudly earned 32 England caps. The camaraderie, strategy, and intensity of the sport fueled my passion, but my career came to an abrupt halt in 2014. A dislocated shoulder during a friendly match against Italy in Sweden forced me into early retirement. The injury required five years of intensive physiotherapy, and even after all that, I found myself far from the peak fitness that once defined me.

As if that weren’t enough, a car accident further tested my resilience. Relearning to walk with my right leg was a humbling experience, one that forced me to reassess my relationship with sport and fitness. The competitive fire that had driven me for so long had to take a backseat as I focused on recovery and adapting to a new reality.

Fast forward to today, and my life looks very different. I’m now 31 years old, happily overweight, and far removed from the days of intense training and calorie counting. My time in the pool is mostly spent with my 2-year-old son, splashing around and enjoying the water without the pressure of competition.

However, that might be about to change. My sales director, Kevin Ireson , is a fitness enthusiast. He’s always cycling, eating healthy, and counting calories - things that seem like a distant memory to me. But Kevin knows about my history, and he’s been itching to tap into that competitive nature that once defined me. His latest challenge? A 100m swimming race between us, set for Friday afternoon on the 23rd of August.

I haven’t trained seriously in over 10 years and haven't been in the pool to swim a length in over a year. The thought of racing again feels both exhilarating and daunting. I’m not the athlete I once was, but that old fire is still there, buried beneath years of life’s ups and downs. The race may only be 100 meters, but for me, it’s about much more than the distance - it's about reconnecting with a part of myself that I thought was long gone and, obviously, beating my very active Sales Director!

So, as the date approaches, I’m dusting off my goggles, squeezing into my old Speedos, and preparing to dive back into the pool. It won’t be easy, and I have no illusions about being the swimmer I once was. But there’s something about this challenge that has reignited a spark in me. It’s not just about winning - though, let’s be honest, that’s still important - but about embracing the journey and proving to myself that I’ve still got what it takes.

Kevin, you better be ready because I’m bringing everything I’ve got. The old competitive me may be a little rusty, but that just means I’ve got something to prove. LET'S GO!!!