Swimming has been a favorite pastime for people for many years. People of all ages and all abilities can swim, either for fun or competitively. There are many benefits for those who do take up swimming as a competitive sport, including the incredible exercise, the ability to participate in it, even as you age, and the weightless qualities it provides. Even if you have never swum competitively, it is never too late to start enjoying a sport thousands of people enjoy every day.

Exercise

Regardless of your age, exercise is an important part of your life. Medical and fitness professionals suggest you exercise three to four times a week and work all your muscle groups as much as possible to get the most vigorous workout. When you choose to swim competitively, you will work all the major muscle groups in one exercise, especially when you participate in all the various strokes, including freestyle, backstroke, breast stroke and the butterfly stroke. This makes it possible for everyone to exercise, even those who suffer from knee, leg or back ailments.

Competition

If you decide to take your swimming to the competitive level, you can choose your level of competition. If there is one particular stroke you excel at, you can choose to compete just in that stroke. If you prefer all the strokes, you can participate in a medley that incorporates two or more different types of strokes into one race. The length of each race varies, allowing you to choose the distance with which you are comfortable.

Weightless Exercise

Many people avoid exercises, such as weight lifting or jogging, because of the heavy impact those exercises have on the joints. Even young people suffer from medical issues as a result of too much rigorous exercise. This is another main benefit of taking up swimming competitively. There is no contact and the water can actually be good for your joints, healing you while you swim.

If you have given thought to swimming competitively, it is not too late. There are always pools available with lanes that give swimmers a chance to practice their skills. Grab yourself a competitive swimsuit and a few swim gear items and start swimming competitively. It is definitely something you will feel good about.