This time of year brings a different kind of pressure for many of our athletes. Alongside early mornings, evening sessions and weekend competitions, a number of our swimmers are sitting GCSEs and A-levels right now — and for our university swimmers, end of year exams and coursework deadlines are hitting equally hard.
That is no small thing. Managing training alongside revision, coursework and exams takes real discipline and a level of organisation that most people twice your age would find challenging. You are doing it anyway, and that deserves recognition.
It is also worth knowing that the research backs you up. Continuing swim training during exams can actually help rather than hinder. Research shows that regular aerobic exercise supports memory, focus, and emotional balance, while also reducing stress and improving sleep, all of which make revision more effective. Swimming offers a calm, rhythmic break from studying, helps students manage pressure, and keeps their routine steady without taking excessive time away from work. Taken together, the evidence suggests that keeping some training going isn’t a distraction from exams but a useful way to stay sharp, healthy, and mentally steady during a demanding period.
From everyone at Derwentside and Gateshead Swim Team, good luck to all of you. You have put the work in, in the pool and out of it. Trust that preparation and go and show what you are made of.
We will see you on the other side.
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Research sources:
- Physical activity improves stress load, recovery, and perceived academic performance (BMC Public Health, 2024)
- Systematic review on physical activity, stress, and academic performance (Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2021)
- Systematic review on physical activity and mental health in students (Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 2025)
- Scoping review on physical activity, anxiety, and academic performance (EJIHPE, 2025)
- Systematic review of physical‑activity interventions improving student mental health (Health Promotion International, 2024)