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12 Things Swimmers Hate

1. “Did you win”

No. I didn’t. A single person cannot win a meet. It’s just not possible. End of story.

2. New caps

The gross chalky white stuff that comes on the inside of a new cap makes sure it slips off your head the first 5 times you wear it.

3. Olympic Swimming Fervor

That week of the summer olympics when everyone is suddenly a swimming fanatic. Ryan Lochte becomes every teenage girl’s phone background.

4. When people touch their feet

If you’re going to swim faster than me, go ahead of me. Don’t stay on my feet unless you have a death wish.

5. “Good job” after a bad race

If I’m walking away from the blocks not smiling, don’t say good job. Don’t try to make me feel better, because it’s just a reminder that I sucked.

6. When people complain about waking up early

Waking up at 5:15 for training gives us the right to be annoyed by people who complain about waking up at 9:00.

7. People who talk to you before your races

I’m trying to get in the zone. I’m trying to focus. Your incessant tapping is not helping. Stop talking to me.

8. Goggle marks

No, it’s not part of my makeup.

9. “You’re going to eat all of that?”

Yes. I am. Don’t question it. Don’t ask me for some. Get your own food and leave me alone.

10. “You smell like chlorine

No kidding. No matter how many showers I take, it won’t go away. Don’t remind me.

11. “I can beat you at swimming”

Oh, really? Can you? With all the training that you do? Playing marco polo in your backyard pool?

12. Swimming

We love it…and we hate it.

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Maycee Swartz
11 months ago

I take 3 showers a day and I can’t get the smell off of me. My friends ask me ” Do you shower you smell like chlorine”

Andrew Lardieri
3 years ago

Cold water, getting splashed,

mike
9 years ago

I used not to be that good at swimming and people would say “did you win” and i would try and explain “no i got eighth but that’s good because it was open age group” or some other reason like i was in my worst events, then i got good…and now i go to championship meets and win and when people ask me if i won to get me to do my long rant/explanation why not and i just say yes they always try and explain to me how you can’t win a swim meet.

9 years ago

Why don’t you just enjoy swimming in the beaches of the Philippines. That would be awesome!

Ethan
9 years ago

Numbers 9 and 10 pretty much describe my entire life.

9 years ago

“Good job”, “You’re going to eat all of that?”, “You smell like chlorine”.

khaled ibrahim
9 years ago

agree

judgejeff
9 years ago

Swimming is the toughest sport because you train and train and train. Often for no perceived gain. Cross country is easy for swimmers. They do not need to train for cross country, they just go and do it. A pretty daft list really but just a bit of fun. Interesting that the USA is so different to the UK. In the UK we barely ever compete as teams. Maybe that is a reason we are not competing at the highest levels more.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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