"I'd go to swim practice, put my face in the water, and I didn't have to talk to anybody. Swimming was like my escape, but it was also like this huge prison because I felt like I had to swim up to people's standards"

In this quote, Amanda Beard is describing her experience with swimming. She describes that going to swim practice was a method for her to get away from the outside world and not have to engage with anybody. However, she likewise felt trapped by the pressure to satisfy other individuals's expectations. Swimming was both a source of comfort and a concern for her. It offered her with a sense of liberty, however at the very same time, she felt restricted by the high requirements set by others. This quote highlights the complex relationship in between swimming and Beard's psychological and emotional well-being.