Michael, your neurodiverse nature means you typically get the benefit of the doubt when you make people uncomfortable. You leverage this well to draw attention to yourself. For the last year you have had the unstinting support of the Bournemouth swimming community, in particular Durley Sea Swims. Hundreds of hours of advice/crewing/coaching - made all the more stressful by your refusal to address your unsafe habits.
You repaid them with the same ignorance and ingratitude on display here. Eventually they had no choice but to ban you.
I am saddened and embarrassed by this.
You are a driven and talented young man who has much to be grateful for, but you fall short of your potential with your negative approach and alienation of others.
@IronMike said:
Like I said. Quit. Stick to orienteering. Or for once and for all, say thank you to all the people here who have given you advice.
Thank you for all given advice to me. I now think that swimming is not the sport for me to do.
@miklcct said:
P.S. If I want to become a high-level long distance swimmer and a high-level marathon runner at the same time, shouldn't I train in a triathlon club?
I'm losing count on how many sports you aim to be elite in. Orienteering (check), marathon swimming, marathon running. Seriously?
My aim is to become elite in 2 sports. One of them is orienteering. Maybe I should pick up sailing again?! I did sailing in the past but eventually when I started swimming I no longer did that.
@abe said:
Michael - you getting lots of attention and advice, must be confusing
My advice is enjoy what you are doing or quit
I have no longer enjoyed any swimming since the pandemic because I could no longer train and get coached properly, and despite the pandemic is over here in the UK what happened last year has already destroyed all my confidence in swimming.
I'll probably quit swimming later this year, but before I make the death call I will still get more coaching, and tell my coach straight away my goal that I want to get into nationals. If he can make me a plan to that level then I will still continue.
@Stephen said:
Michael, your neurodiverse nature means you typically get the benefit of the doubt when you make people uncomfortable. You leverage this well to draw attention to yourself. For the last year you have had the unstinting support of the Bournemouth swimming community, in particular Durley Sea Swims. Hundreds of hours of advice/crewing/coaching - made all the more stressful by your refusal to address your unsafe habits.
You repaid them with the same ignorance and ingratitude on display here. Eventually they had no choice but to ban you.
I am saddened and embarrassed by this.
You are a driven and talented young man who has much to be grateful for, but you fall short of your potential with your negative approach and alienation of others.
I shouldn't have gone to Bournemouth at all last year. I should have cancelled my Channel slot and stayed in London where I can get the best environment and best coaches for pool-based swim training until I become as good as Chloë McCardel before I swim the Channel. Now irrecoverable damage has been done both to my swimming development and to my relationship with the community and I can never be as good as if what happened last year didn't happen instead.
Comments
What your saying Michael is not real - that actually makes sense
Michael, your neurodiverse nature means you typically get the benefit of the doubt when you make people uncomfortable. You leverage this well to draw attention to yourself. For the last year you have had the unstinting support of the Bournemouth swimming community, in particular Durley Sea Swims. Hundreds of hours of advice/crewing/coaching - made all the more stressful by your refusal to address your unsafe habits.
You repaid them with the same ignorance and ingratitude on display here. Eventually they had no choice but to ban you.
I am saddened and embarrassed by this.
You are a driven and talented young man who has much to be grateful for, but you fall short of your potential with your negative approach and alienation of others.
Thanks Stephen to clarify Michael is real
Thank you for all given advice to me. I now think that swimming is not the sport for me to do.
My aim is to become elite in 2 sports. One of them is orienteering. Maybe I should pick up sailing again?! I did sailing in the past but eventually when I started swimming I no longer did that.
I have no longer enjoyed any swimming since the pandemic because I could no longer train and get coached properly, and despite the pandemic is over here in the UK what happened last year has already destroyed all my confidence in swimming.
I'll probably quit swimming later this year, but before I make the death call I will still get more coaching, and tell my coach straight away my goal that I want to get into nationals. If he can make me a plan to that level then I will still continue.
I shouldn't have gone to Bournemouth at all last year. I should have cancelled my Channel slot and stayed in London where I can get the best environment and best coaches for pool-based swim training until I become as good as Chloë McCardel before I swim the Channel. Now irrecoverable damage has been done both to my swimming development and to my relationship with the community and I can never be as good as if what happened last year didn't happen instead.