Steenisms: Wisdom for swimming, and life

Every Kenyon swimmer has a mental list of favorite Steenisms—the endlessly repeated maxims and mantras by which Jim Steen gets into his athletes' heads, challenging their assumptions, shaping their goals, and redefining the nature of their motivation, not just in swimming but also in life. Swimming alumni who go into coaching often find themselves repeating some of those Steenisms—realizing, as they exhort their own athletes, “I sound just like Coach.” Here are some of their favorite pearls of wisdom from the master.

  • There are two ways to live your life, under a threat or for a challenge.
  • If you can dream it, you can achieve it.
  • Swim with a smile.
  • Each season we begin the year as nobodies with something to prove.
  • When you swim your best against the best in the best of all possible situations, you are the best.
  • Dare to be great.
  • This is a journey, not a destination.
  • Four mediocre swimmers can make one exceptional relay team.
  • Get comfortable with the uncomfortable.
  • Success breeds complacency.
  • If there is anything you should fear, it is complacency.
  • In a loss, you can be perfect.
  • In a win, you can be imperfect.
  • Don't think.
  • Swim BIG.
  • Swimming, like life, is not what happens to you, but how you react to it.
  • Celebrate little victories.
  • Posture! Posture! Posture!
  • Believe in yourself and what you are capable of.
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