I was scrolling through my phone during my lunch break yesterday when I came across that interview with Ye Shiwen – you know, the one where she’s talking about possibly retiring from swimming. The video showed her standing by the pool, her hair still wet from the competition, and there was this look in her eyes that hit me right in the feels.
She mentioned how she’s been dealing with neurological issues that made her training inconsistent, and when asked about retirement rumors, she said something that really stuck with me: ‘I’m still struggling with the decision… I really want to continue, but if my body can’t handle it anymore, I might have to say goodbye to the pool. It would be hard to let go.’
Watching her speak, I suddenly remembered my cousin Ling – she was a competitive swimmer back in high school, not at Ye’s level of course, but she lived and breathed that chlorine-scented life. I can still picture her coming home from practice, her skin smelling like pool water, her hair permanently damaged from all the chemicals, but with this crazy energy in her eyes.
Then during her senior year, she developed shoulder problems that just wouldn’t go away. I remember visiting her dorm room and seeing her collection of pain relief patches scattered on her desk like confetti. ‘Some days I can’t even lift my arm to brush my hair,’ she told me once, her voice cracking. ‘But what else would I do? Swimming is… me.’
There was this one time I went to watch her practice – the sound of water splashing, the coach’s whistle echoing in the humid air, and Ling pushing through lap after lap even though you could see the pain in her face with every stroke. She told me later that night over bubble tea: ‘Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it. But then I think about that feeling when you touch the wall first, and I just can’t imagine my life without it.’
According to some sports medicine data I looked up later, about 30% of elite swimmers experience career-threatening injuries at some point (source: 2023 International Journal of Sports Medicine), but what the numbers don’t show is that internal battle – that voice in your head asking if you should keep going or walk away.
Ling eventually took a six-month break, went to physical therapy, and came back to swimming in college – not as competitively, but she found a way to keep that part of her life alive. She coaches kids now on weekends, and when I see her demonstrating strokes to little beginners, there’s still that same spark in her eyes.
After watching Ye’s interview, I texted Ling: ‘Remember when you thought you had to quit swimming?’ She replied with a laughing emoji: ‘Yeah, and look at me now – still smelling like chlorine every weekend. Some things you just can’t give up completely.’
I guess what I’m trying to say is – whether it’s Ye Shiwen, my cousin, or anyone else facing that ‘should I stay or should I go’ moment, it’s never just about the sport itself. It’s about identity, passion, and finding your own way to keep what you love in your life, even if it looks different from what you originally planned.
What about you? Have you ever had to make a tough decision about something you loved deeply? Share your stories below – sometimes hearing how others navigated similar crossroads can help more than any advice.
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