Alcohol & Swimming Performance: My Honest Take

I’ve got something a little different—and personal—to share with you today. It’s about alcohol, performance, and the hard lessons I’ve learned along the way as an Olympic swimmer.

🗣️ My Story with Alcohol

To be totally upfront: I don’t really like drinking. I never have. And honestly, my relationship with alcohol is complicated.

I grew up the son of an alcoholic and drug addict. My dad, struggled with it for as long as I can remember. Watching what alcohol did to his life left a scar on me. That experience shaped the way I viewed drinking—and kept me from having even my first drink until I was nearly 22.

I steered clear of alcohol all through college. While teammates partied, I chose early nights and recovery. My focus stayed on the pool, not the parties. 

And guess what? I improved every year. PBs season after season. I was on track.

But then came senior year.

Newly single, of legal drinking age, and feeling like I had missed out on “college life,” I started going out more. I drank. I stayed out late. I was chasing social experiences I had previously skipped.

And it showed in the pool.

That year, I didn’t hit any personal bests. I fell short of my goals - and I knew exactly why.

After that, I had a choice to make. I told my coaches I wanted to keep swimming after college, and they laid it out plainly: “If you want to train like a professional, live like a professional.”

So I did.

I cut out the late nights and the drinking. My performance bounced back and I continued to work towards my dream of qualifying for the Olympics.

💡Key Takeaways

Here’s my honest takeaway for any young athlete reading this:

🍻Alcohol does impact your performance—even if it's subtle.

📈The effects build up over time. You might not feel it right away, but it’s there.

🤝 Most elite athletes deal with these choices. You're not alone.

You don't need to swear off alcohol forever, but be smart about it. Know your goals, understand the tradeoffs, and choose accordingly.

Champions are made by the choices they repeat—so choose the ones that move you closer to your goals.

👋 Until Next Time

Thanks for being here and letting me open up about something personal. I don’t share stories like this to preach—I share them because I’ve lived through the tough choices, the setbacks, and the lessons.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the small decisions—like choosing rest over a night out—add up to big results. Whether you're chasing a medal, a goal time, or just becoming the best version of yourself, the path is clearer when you're honest with yourself.

Keep showing up. Keep making the hard choices. And always train smart, live smart.

– Cody

Until my next newsletter, I will see you all - later