Can someone realistically pick up swimming (competitively) as a teenager?

Question

Some sports, like Tennis or Golf, there is no way. Running, pretty much a no. What about swimming?

Answer 1

i think that if someone doesnt start competitive swimming by age 12........there is little if any chance that person will ever be competitive.

he/ she will never be as good as they could have been if they started just a few years earlier.

maybe 13......that should be the latest someone starts competitive swimming. but that is really pushing it.

Answer 2

Of course you can! Just practice practice practice! I know a guy who just started at the end of his freshmen year of high school and he's one of the fastest guys I know with like a 52 for a 100 yd free.

Answer 3

Well, I did know a girl who started swimming her freshman year, and by her sophomore year, she made state in the 100 fly, so it CAN happen... you just have to be athletically gifted and a natural "fish".

But if you want to swim for your high school swim team or try summer league next year--by all means--GO FOR IT! It's fun, gets you in shape fast, and if you put enough into it, you'll drop huge chunks off of your race times every meet.

However, you probably shouldn't get your hopes up and expect to make state--or finals in any meet--your first year.

And if you're trying to find some sort of athletic scholarship through starting to swim competitively, get out of that fairy tale... lol.

Answer 4

m.. welll.. yes you can. i started swimming when i was 12.. and I was really really bad. i could barely swim 25yds without panting. i started competitive swimming when i was 13 and i was actually faster than most of my friends who were older than i was. i'm not exactly the FASTEST swimmer there is but i'm still a pretty decent swimmer knowing how late i started swimming.