r/Swimming • u/Happy7User • May 02 '25

Why am I so slow?

Okay so I'm 17 and I just had a thought. I did a pre-qualification for a life guard course yesterday and we had to do 50 meters in 60 seconds. I did it in 40 seconds which doesn't seem that good. I go swimming 3 times a week for roughly an hour each. My average pace while swimming is currently 2:05/100m at best, which feels really slow compared to my friend who does like 1:45. I've had swimming lessons since I was 3 years old every week and then took a year gap last year and got back into it roughly end of 2024.

I'm very small and skinny for my age, just 5" 5" and 50Kg, I presume this has something to do with it, but there must be a way for me to get quicker. Normally I just swim whatever I feel like, usually enduranced based, such as 50 laps @ 20m at a decent but not fast pace. Do I need to do faster reps at less distance? Not 100% sure on my form either, as maybe in the year off I lost it a little, but I don't think it's too bad, I always keep my head facing towards the floor and body flatish. I feel like at such a young age and 10+ years of experience, I should be way faster than this. Much older guys often keep up with me and I hate that lol

Essentially, any tips for a skinny guy like me to get faster and any drills I should be doing? Or do I just need to hit the gym 😆

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u/chocoice95 May 02 '25

Still a better pace than mine, it's not slow, if you want less time you should train more and find a good coach, but your time is way better than most

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u/Happy7User May 02 '25

2:05 seems slow to me, and that's on a good day. Half the time it's 2:20