The potent smell of chlorine, two-a-day practices and choking on mouthfuls of water. These are just a fragment of the struggles that competitive swimmers face on the daily. Most non-swimmers do not realize how intense the sport really is and are blinded by the endurance and speed you must possess to be effective. Despite the numerous physical hardships, swimmers generally bond with their teammates through the good and bad experiences. Jokes are made during practices and each person will find time to stop after swimming a set to chat with his or her favorite lane buddy. Here are some of the many quotes, questions and statements made by just about every swimmer in existence, from the amateurs to the professionals. If you are a swimmer or have ever swam for a team before, then these references might be all too familiar to you.
On dry land
1. "What is the purpose of this?"
2. "Do you think coach will notice I skipped running that last lap?"
3. "Can we stretch for ten more minutes?"
4. "Yeah, I already did like 100 push-ups."
5. "I forgot my workout shoes. Let me run home and get them real quick."
At practice
6. "May I borrow an extra pair of goggles?"
7. "My cap just broke. Do you have another one?"
8. "Coach, do we really have to do this?"
9. "Yes!! Kickboards!!!!"
10. "What did I do to deserve this punishment?'
11. "I wonder what my mom will make for dinner after practice?"
12. "What time is practice over with?"
13. "We were supposed to swim 10 x 100 yards of freestyle, but I only did 9."
14. "Don't tell coach that we finished the set already."
15. "May I go to the bathroom?"
16. "May I go to the bathroom, again?"
17. "I'm so hungry I could eat about five whole pizzas right now."
18. "Ugh, I hate butterfly."
19. "So-and-so keeps groping me on accident while swimming backstroke."
20. "Stop touching my feet!"
21. "Is this the last set?"
22. "Wait, what did coach say?"
23. "How much rest do we have again?"
24. "What time is practice over?"
25. "I'm too tired to walk to the locker rooms, so I guess I'll change on the deck."
26. "Can you give me a ride home?"
At the swim meet
27. "Who has the heat sheet?"
28. "What events am I supposed to swim?"
29. "Will you switch events with me?"
30. "All of my events are back to back....."
31.. "I feel too sick to swim."
32. "Don't worry, you're going to beat me anyways."
33. "Try not to make me look bad when we race each other."
34. "Where is everybody eating after?"
35. "Do you see my parents anywhere?"
36.. "I hope this doesn't last all day."
37. "If I can improve my time by a millisecond I will be content in life."
38.. "He's super slow, you will beat him for sure."
39. "Will you count for me on my 500?"
40. "Did you remember to shave?"
41. "How many heats are left until mine?"
42.. "Man, some of these parents get way too intense at these meets."
43. "I'm finished with all my events, so I'm going to concessions."
44. "Is the water cold?"
Aside from all the long days and hard practices, swimming has become a part of life for me and I wouldn't be the same without it.
