Most athletes love hearing the cheers of the crowd.

Whether you are are fútbol player scoring a goal in Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, a basketball player in Madison Square Garden in New York City, or a 100m sprinter winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games, athletes generally love the cheer of the crowds. They relish in the attention and they get inspired by the adulation.

But cheers can also turn into boos and whistles when the outcome is bad, a turnover is made, or their opponent gets the better of them.

Race car drivers are cheered on madly and marathon runners and cyclists can feel and feed off the energy of the fans lined up along the streets. Fans pay to rally behind their favorite teams and support their favorite players.

But what do channel swimmers and marathon swimmers prefer? Cheers or crickets?

When swimmers finally crawl upon the rocks of Cape Gris Nez on the shores of France (like Martha Wood below on the right, photographed by Elaine Howley) or a Bonifacio Channel swim relay celebrates together, they appreciate the cheers of their escort crew.

But what about during a solo swim in the middle of the channel? Or what about swimming at night while alone and cold? Do swimmers want to hear the cheers of their crew – or are they happy in their cerebral solitude? Is constant cheering something they want – like team sports athletes – or do they prefer the occasional cheer during feedings?

Are they happy with notes and messages written by their crew? Is reading funny messages from their friends or motivational quotes on a whiteboard enough to keep them going? Do you want something more – or are they resigned to wait for comments and congratulatory messages from their Facebook friends and fans?

Would swimmers go faster or would them be able to mentally handle cold water better or longer, if a flotilla of boats were around them with cheering fans, photographers, and boat honking?

Ice swimmers can encounter both kinds of experiences. In ice swimming and winter swimming championships, the music is blaring, the announcer is pumping up the crowds, and the cheers can be loud and boisterous.

What do you prefer? And why?

Email your preferences to headcoach@openwatersource.com. Are you comfortable by yourself without the cheers of your escort crew or prefer some noise and companionship?

© 2023 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“