ME AND SWIMMING
It is not necessary to introduce swimming in great detail – it is exactly the same kind of activity as known to the unhandicapped majority. It is one of the few types of exercise suitable for physically handicapped athletes that does not require special and financially demanding equipment. Swimming was the first sport that I trie after my accident and that I started to practice more intensely. Since the beginning, swimming has been giving me the feeling of freedom and it was the water that made me realize that my handicap was only as big as I perceived it. Of course, curious looks do not make anyone feel good, but later they subsided and often were replaced by admiring glances. Swimming was my first opportunity to engage in sports and perhaps it was the deciding moment that directed me towards athetics.
Swimming is currently an important physical activity for me. Inbetween seasons and in the preparation period for handbike racing it helps me maintain and increase my fitness level. Last but not least, it is an important regeneration procedure in the main season; non-impact exercise in the pool is a great way to alleviate the join and muscle strain caused by intense training. As I practice swimming quite intensely, at least during certain periods of the year, I have had a chance to experience the environment of local competitions.
