The son has been swimming competitively for over 5 years now. He's had his share of successes (finished top 10 in the state a 2019 in several events) and some low spots. Numerous folks involved in swimming have said he's got what it takes to swim collegiate, although we have not had any contact from recruiters or the such. Still got a couple of years before that, though.

Then Covid...

No swimming for months. Then very limited practice. Meets have been a joke if they even happen. Many of his friends on the team and other teams have dropped out. Coach is good but his personality is a bit wonky (what good coach isn't). Son thrives on competition and camaraderie on the deck, which hasn't happened for over a year now. He performs to the level that he is swimming against. The higher the competition, the better he performs.

So last week, he says he wants to quit swimming. He said his interests lie elsewhere (music, working) and swimming just isn't fun for him anymore. The SO and I had an hour + long discussion last night where he gave a whole myriad of lucid and defensible arguments for not continuing. The kid hit all the right buttons to defend his position (he'd make a hell of a lawyer, egad). There was certainly emotion behind it, but very little that wasn't tied to something concrete. He's also said he doesn't have the desire to swim in college anymore, which was a bit of a shocker to us.

I think he's burned out a bit and that the whole Covid issue has magnified the situation exponentially. He's at a point where quitting now could mean never picking it up again at the level he's achieved and those 5 years of work are out the window. But I could hear it in his voice. When he says he's counting the minutes at practice until it's over, he's lost the drive and passion. He's not focused on improvement but just going through the motions.

We haven't made any concrete decisions at the moment, but have to by the end of the week. Long course has started and we need to have him committed through the end of the summer by then.

So, how have the rest of y'all handled similar situations? My scales are exactly evenly weighed at the moment, with very unattractive outcomes on both sides in my evaluation.

Experiences, advice and snark appreciated.

Oh, and eff Covid.