improving

Question
hi :) my name's autumn and i'm sixteen. I've been swimming since i was in third grade. I switched swim teams since the coach started to injure me at age thirteen, but everyone on the swim team has gotten way better than me. I've been trying to train like them since the season hasn't started yet, but do you have any tips or exercises that can make me faster? I run, lift weights and do pull-ups. And i swim the 100 free, 100 back, and 200 free and 200 back. Thank you so much!
~autumn

Answer
Hi Autumn,

Could it be that your injuries are hindering you? The only other advice I have for you is to keep on practicing (especially the strokes you hope to improve in). I assume the other people on your team don't slack off. Also, it's important to see who you're comparing yourself to. Are your teammates older or younger or are they guys? Stuff like that makes all the difference in the world when it comes to competition. I know from personal experience that ages 14-16 were the years where I had to work my butt off in order to improve all my times. I'm sure your hard work will pay off!

~April