5 Items Every Swimmer Needs, According to Water Polo Star Ashleigh Johnson

Johnson always has a water bottle on her. "I keep one in my car, one in my house, I'll take one to practice," she says. "But I always have one with me, because hydration is key. I can feel it in my body when I'm dehydrated and I know I'm not training at the level that I need to be and I'm definitely not recovering at the level I want to be."

Johnson particularly loves a Hydro Flask stainless-steel water bottle ($36), because it "keeps the water cold and is easy to carry around."

Johnson's essential recovery routine also includes Dr Teal's Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution ($6). "After I'll train, I'll come home in my suit, get right in the tub, and sit and soak for 20 minutes. I love the lavender scent; it relaxes my mind, calms me down a little bit, and it just speeds my recovery," she says. "It helps you with sore muscles, aches, and just gets me ready for that next session."

Johnson says that when she was younger, she was told she didn't need to use sunscreen — something she suspects other folks with darker skin and higher levels of melanin have been falsely taught. Now that she knows the importance of using sunscreen, she's on the search for the right one. "It's been a struggle figuring out what sunscreen you are going to use that doesn't have a white cast, that stays on for the 80 minutes that I need," she says.

While finding the exact perfect formula is still a goal of hers, we suggest trying out Innbeauty Project's Mineral Sun Glow Sunscreen ($35), which one editor said left her with no white cast.

"As an elite athlete, finding the product that works really well for you in your sport is big," Johnson says. "And for me, I've loved Jolyn for all my life and still wear it today." Not only does she love the fact that the brand's swimwear and prints "are cute," but the suits also "give me the mobility to play the way I want to."

Better yet, Johnson adds, "It's a brand that's inclusive and represents women really well and elevates women. That's what I love about the company behind the suit."

You can grab one of Johnson's favorites, the Jolyn Anique Water Polo Suit ($78), in a variety of hues.

Although a journal might not seem directly related to water polo, Johnson says it's a crucial aspect of her training. "I talk about the good days and the bad days, the ups and downs of training, and I just really document and reflect on my journey in my own way and in my own words," she says. "I started with this team when I was 18 and now I'm 29, so my mentality has shifted drastically over my journey as an athlete, and it's been really cool to look back and see who I was and what's stayed consistent, what's been important to me, and what's become important to me."

She believes that any athlete can benefit from this "exercise for mental wellness." It doesn't have to be a lengthy routine, either; our editors love The Five Minute Journal ($27, originally $30) for getting into the swing of things.

Lena Felton is the senior director of features and special content at PS, where she oversees feature stories, special projects, and our identity content. Previously, she was an editor at The Washington Post, where she led a team covering issues of gender and identity.