Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-68.224.95.175-20140823070338/@comment-4782885-20140830225129

I think that if he was serious about swimming like Rin is and wants to aim higher and higher, the series would lose their meaning because the whole plot is going around Haru wanting to be "Free!" and swim without any rules and restrictions. If he were to become a professional, he wouldn't be "Free!" anymore and the series would get the "tralalala" feel to them because of an enormous plot twist that was unnecessary.

This is what I think, after all. :)