This piece was written by athlete and Brand ambassador Matt Hutchins, a 2016 Rio Olympian and University of Wisconsin Badger.
Traveling away to swim meets is one of the best parts of being a competitive swimmer. You get to go to towns, cities, and sometimes countries you never thought you would visit. You get to travel with some of your closest friends, and you usually get to eat out at restaurants for a few days. With all of the fun that comes along with travel meets, there are also some stressors. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to remove stress and prepare for when things may not go as planned. Long travel days can feel longer with travel delays, being unfamiliar with your new surroundings, or even just being removed from your typical schedule back home. All of these things can tire you out mentally. Being able to plan ahead is important, so here are three tips to help you prepare for your next away meet and crush the competition.