Sports
How Team Spirit Keeps Swimmers in the Sport
Alexandre Indiani reflects on his early days in the pool and explains why team culture keeps athletes in the sport.
Speaking on the Natação Stemma podcast, coach Alexandre Indiani reflects on his early swimming days in São Bernardo do Campo and highlights the vital role of a strong team environment in athletic longevity.
Swimming is often described as a solitary sport, where athletes spend hours with their heads in the water staring at the black line along the bottom of the pool. However, the defining factor in keeping young swimmers in the sport is rarely isolated individual effort, but rather the environment around them and the strength of the team.
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Early steps and grassroots discipline
In a conversation on the Natação Stemma podcast, coach Alexandre Indiani recalled his earliest memories in the water around ages 6 or 7 during lessons organized by the City of São Bernardo do Campo. From that playful stage—where the fun was diving for gravel pebbles tossed onto the pool floor by the instructor—he transitioned to Academia Iara after an unusual incident: tired of waiting for his mother who was running late, the 7-year-old decided to walk home alone, crossing busy avenues. The scare prompted his parents to look for a more structured environment.
At age 10, Indiani joined the competitive team under coach Helena Scarpelli. Her technical rigor and organization laid the foundation for his sporting discipline. Later, he had stints at Esporte Clube Pinheiros and Estilo Clube Juvenil, back in São Bernardo, training under coach Mirko.
The power of relays and locker-room camaraderie
Never defining himself as a naturally gifted athlete, Indiani built his career through daily dedication and discipline. The payoff of this commitment came largely in team competitions, earning state and national medals in relay events.
For the coach, his relay experience solidified a philosophy he carries throughout his coaching career: a well-structured team is what sustains an athlete through tough moments. Even on days of exhausting and monotonous training, the camaraderie, partnership, and lighthearted locker-room atmosphere after a grueling set provide the true fuel that keeps children, youth, and adult swimmers motivated in the sport.
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