For many swimmers, the “About Me” section is the most difficult part of building your SwimIntel profile. Times are easy to enter. Grades are easy to upload. Writing about yourself feels personal and many recruits are not sure what coaches want to hear.
But your “About Me” is one of the most important sections in your profile. College coaches already know your times. What they cannot see from a times database is your story, personality, work ethic, or potential. This short bio is your chance to show that you are more than just a set of times.
This article will walk you through how to write your “About Me” so it feels natural, shows what makes you unique, and helps coaches understand who you can become in their program.
Why This Section Matters
Every college coach is asking the same question about you: who will this swimmer be in two to four years. Your current times matter, but your potential matters even more. Coaches want to know how you think, how you train, what you have overcome, and why you are still on an upward path.
The “About Me” section gives them clues. Your background in other sports. Your recent time drops. A late growth spurt. Training changes that are starting to pay off. Academic interests. Injuries or challenges that taught you how to fight. None of that shows up in a standard results database, but it all helps coaches see your upside.
When a coach opens your profile, the “About Me” is often one of the first things they read. A clear, honest paragraph here can make them want to keep learning more about you.
How Long Should It Be
A good “About Me” on SwimIntel is usually 5 to 10 sentences. That is long enough to give real information, but short enough that a coach can read it quickly between sessions at a meet.
Use your own judgment, but avoid extremes. Do not write a single sentence that says almost nothing. Do not write a full essay that feels like a college application. If a coach opens your profile and sees a huge wall of text, there is a good chance they will skip it.
Keep your writing simple, direct, and conversational. You are not trying to impress an English teacher. You are simply telling your story to someone who wants to know who you are.
What To Include
Think of your “About Me” as a highlight reel of your story as a student-athlete. You do not need to cover everything about your life. Focus on the pieces that help a coach understand your potential. Here are areas that often work well.
1. How you started swimming Coaches want to know your path into the sport. Were you always a swimmer, or did you switch from another sport. Are you a late starter who is still learning fast. This helps them understand your athletic age and upside.
Example: “I was a competitive gymnast until age 12 and only started swimming five years ago. My background in gymnastics has helped me quickly develop good turns and underwaters.”
2. Your strengths in the water List more than just your events. Explain how you swim them. Underwaters, kick strength, finishes, consistency in practice, ability to handle big training loads, or racing skills can all be part of your strengths.
Example: “My biggest strengths are my underwaters off every wall and my ability to hold a consistent pace on the back half of all of my races.”
3. Time drops and progression Coaches read your “About Me” looking for growth. If you have had big drops or steady improvement, call it out. You do not need to list exact times here. Focus on the pattern.
Example: “In the past year I dropped over two seconds in my 100 back and six seconds in my 200 IM and am getting faster with my current training under Coach Jack.”
4. Physical traits that impact performance Height, wingspan, a recent growth spurt, or changes in strength can all point to future potential. Share only what you are comfortable sharing, but do not be afraid to include this if it is relevant.
Example: “I grew three inches this year and now stand 6’3″ with a 6’6″ wingspan.”
5. Multi-sport or athletic background Many swimmers spend years in other sports before focusing on swimming. That experience still matters. It says a lot about your athleticism and competitiveness.
Example: “I ran cross country and played soccer through middle school which gave me a lot of endurance as I shifted fully to swimming.”
6. Academic strengths and interests Coaches need athletes who can succeed in the classroom. Mention your GPA, academic honors, or classes and subjects you are passionate about. This helps a coach picture how you will fit at their school.
Example: “Academically I carry a 3.9 GPA while taking multiple AP classes and I plan to study chemistry in college with the hope of going to pharmacy school.”
7. Challenges or injuries you have overcome You do not have to share anything too personal, but a short description of obstacles you have faced can show resilience and maturity.
Example: “I missed part of my sophomore season with a shoulder injury, which forced me to focus on technique, core strength, and mental toughness. I came back stronger and have now dropped time in every event.”
8. Training situation or geographic challenges Some swimmers train with small teams, limited pool time, or long drives to practice. That context helps coaches interpret your times and see how much room you may have to grow in a college environment.
Example: “I live over an hour from my pool and make the drive five days a week. This has taught me to manage my time well and stay committed. I don’t have access to a full weight room but cannot wait to see how lifting regularly will help me improve in the water.”
9. Quotes from coaches about your work ethic A short quote from your coach can be powerful. It adds another voice to your story. Keep it to one or two sentences.
Example: “My coach describes me as one of the most motivated swimmers he has ever coached and someone never misses a chance to get better.”
10. Your passion for swimming and your goals Close your “About Me” with why you love the sport and what you are excited about at the college level. This reminds coaches that you are motivated and ready for the next step.
Example: “I love the process of training and racing, and I am excited to join a college program where I can keep improving, support my teammates, and contribute at conference championships.”
Idea Starters
If you are stuck, use this list as a checklist. Pick several items that fit your story and build your paragraph from there.
Significant time drops
Multi-sport athlete
Height
Wingspan
Late growth spurt
Your athletic achievements
Parents or siblings who were athletes
Your academic achievements
A quote from your coach about your work ethic
How your training has changed and will make you faster
Challenges or injuries you have overcome
Specific swimming strengths such as underwaters, kicking, or race strategy
Late entry into swimming
Geographic or training challenges (for example long drive to practice or limited pool time)
Your passion for swimming and long term goals
You do not need to include all of these. Choose the pieces that feel true to you and support the story you want to tell.
Sample “About Me” Paragraphs
Here are a few examples to help you see how this can come together. Do not copy them word for word. Use them as inspiration and then write your own version in your own voice.
Example 1: Late Starter I learned to swim competitively only three years ago after spending most of my childhood in gymnastics. The strength and body control I built there have helped me drop time quickly in backstroke and IM. Over the past year I have dropped more than eight seconds in my 200 IM and continue to improve my above-waters and tempo. Coach John says I am one of the most coachable athletes he has ever had on his team. Academically I carry a 3.8 GPA and am interested in studying engineering in college.
Example 2: Multi-Sport Athlete I grew up playing basketball and running track before moving full time into swimming as a freshman. The mix of sports gave me strong legs and good overall athleticism, which has helped me develop as a sprint freestyler. This year I dropped over a second in my 50 free and two seconds in my 100 free while increasing my strength training. My coach describes me as someone who brings energy to practice and pushes teammates in every set. I enjoy math and science classes and plan to pursue a degree in data science or business analytics.
Example 3: Overcoming Challenges I missed part of my sophomore season due to a wrist injury and had to focus on dryland and technique instead of racing. That time out of the water taught me patience but reminded me how much I love and missed racing. Since returning I have dropped time in every event, especially the 200 fly, where I dropped more than five seconds this year. I am known on my team for being, by far, the loudest one cheering on my teammates during relays. Away from the pool I maintain a 4.0 GPA and hope to study finance.
Example 4: Family Athletic Background I grew up in a family full of athletes. My dad played football at Northern Illinois and did not stop growing until he was 19, eventually reaching 6’6″. My mom was also a collegiate gymnast at Northern Illinois. Their experiences taught me how to train hard and handle pressure, and they encouraged me to find the sport that fit me best. Swimming became that sport, and over the past two years I have continued to drop time in every event as I have gotten stronger and taller. Outside of the pool I have a 3.7 GPA with several AP classes and want to be a physical therapist when I finish college.
Final Thoughts
Your “About Me” section is your chance to show coaches the person behind the times. There is no single correct way to write it. What matters is that it is honest, specific, and focused on your potential.
Start by picking three or four ideas from this guide. Write a short paragraph in your own words. Read it out loud. If it sounds like you, you are on the right track. You can always come back later and update it as you grow, drop more time, or discover new strengths.
