The Swans’ key defensive and leadership player suffered a horrific ankle injury in May this year while in a game against the Belconnen Magpies.

He landed awkwardly, snapping and dislocating his left ankle as the joint bore the full weight of himself and the opposition player after a ruck contest.

Eight screws and a metal plate had to be inserted onto his fibula.

But it was the long weeks of recovery that was the hardest part for the 25-year-old high school teacher.

Slowly, with help of physio, he regained movement and luckily things have improved since the days where he was rendered helpless.

In fact circumstances have taken Armstrong down a path of rediscovery he might not have journeyed upon.

Armstrong has rediscovered his love for swimming.

It’s a bright light in what has been a difficult time for him.

Not only has he returned to the Goulburn Aquatic Centre, a place where his name still dons the honour board from his teenage years, but he’s joined the Goulburn Swimming Club as well.

“Swimming was a huge part of my life growing up,” he told the Post.

“I was competing at a reasonably high level like country and state. I did quite well and I was not that far off national qualifying times.

“I knew swimming would be good for me because there was no impact on the ankle and there are not too many activities like that.”

Armstrong decided swimming would be the ideal way to regain fitness after months of sport-less activity.

He decided he’d take the plunge two weeks ago and he since has competed in last Friday’s club meet where he swam his pet freestyle events as well as breast stroke.

He admits, he may be the oldest guy there. He even raced against some of his students. But that isn’t stopping him.

“I managed 27 seconds for the 50 free which I was pretty happy about,” Armstrong said happily.

“It made me perk up. I knew I could still swim fast. Seeing my name on the boards still is cool to see and it’s motivation. I’d like to get back down to those times.”

As for Armstrong’s road back to football. He doesn’t know just yet. And he doesn’t have to.

“On one hand I would really love to play again,” he explained.

“It’s a great club, a great sport and a really good team to play for. But at the same time, I don’t know if something happened to me again, if I re-did that injury, I don’t know if I could go through that again.”

“It was excruciating pain. It sort of affected not only my body but also mentally and I had to have time off work. My family had to help me out a bit more with everything, I was pretty useless.”

“It’s a bit of risk vs reward in that sense!”

For now he just plans to keep swimming. He’s been racking up laps three times a week. Even in the short time he attributes the sport to his increased mobility – something which he says he is months ahead of schedule.

But there’s still a competitive fire burning inside of him.

“Depending on how the training goes I may even go and compete in Canberra if my times keep getting down!”