Growing up, I constantly heard people say that swimming is not a sport. This statement could not be more incorrect. As a child, I did basketball, soccer, softball, ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, acrobatics, volleyball and swimming. So, it is safe to say that I have had my fair share of sports and enough to say that swimming is by far the hardest. By the time I was in my freshmen year of high school, the only sport I did was swimming. Here are my reasons why swimming is most definitely a sport and the best sport. The first three reasons are why swimming is a sport, and the last three reasons are why it is the best sport.

1. Michael Phelps is the most decorated athlete.

Michael Phelps competed at the Olympics in Athens, Beijing, London and will be competing in Rio in a few weeks. He was able to earn a total of 22 medals -- 18 gold, two silver, and two bronze -- making him the most decorated athlete of all time. This means that he has won the most medals out of any Olympic athlete. Knowing the incredible talent Michael has, he will more likely than not be increasing his medal count this summer. If swimming was not a sport, then how could this be possible?

2. Swimming is not all that swimmers do.

Swimming in the pool is only part of the training that we have. We also do weight training, running, walking, push-ups, squats, etc. Usually, swimmers do at least an hour of intense dryland workouts before we do an intense, two-hour workout in the water.

3. Swimming is in the NCAA.

According to scholarshipstats.com, there are 645 schools in the United States that have swimming has a NCAA sport. There are division I, II, III, NAIA, NJCAA, CCCAA, USCAA and NWAC schools that offer swimming as a varsity sport. The NCAA does not have fake sports in their program.

4. Swimming offers time management skills.

I was on a competitive swim team from 5th to 12th grade. I had practice every day except for Sunday's. A typical day Monday-Friday for me was school, go home for an hour and do homework, spend 3 hours at swim practice, come home, eat dinner, shower, finish homework, sleep, repeat. About three times a month, I would have a swim meet that lasted all day Saturday and all day Sunday. This was incredibly hard, but it taught me time management skills. I knew what had to be done and did it. If it was not for swim, then my procrastination skills would be the best out there.

5. Swimmers can eat whatever they want.

When you're swimming at least five miles a day plus dryland training, you can basically eat whatever you want. I would get Wendy's before practice and not have to worry about it because I knew I would burn off the calories at practice. Swimming is the best because you can eat anything and not have to worry about gaining weight. It's a win-win situation.

6. Swimming gives you a second family.

I spent more time with my teammates than I did with my family. My teammates and coaches became my second family. When your coach is giving you a workout that some may consider a medieval punishment, your teammates are suffering along with you. You count on each other for support and encouragement. Without my teammates, I would have quit swim years ago.

Swimming is a love-hate relationship. Yes, the practices are unbearable, but my life would not be complete without it. I am so glad that I am able to continue my swim career at the college level because I am nowhere near ready to give it up yet. So, this article is for all the swimmers and swammers out there. Once a swimmer, always a swimmer and apart of the swimming family. Because, after all, swimming is the best sport out there.