[SwimTeamSpeedo]

Jimmy got up on the blocks. He was suddenly really nervous. In fact, he was so nervous he was shaking. He positioned his toes right at the end of the blocks, to get a good launch. He looked at Randy next to him on his left, who looked confident as ever. To his right was Aiden, in his solid black Speedo. He was also ready. Down the line were swimmers from the rising team. Tyler and the other guys in shorts were in the next two rounds. “Good launch,” Jimmy said to himself. “Swim your race.”

The calls came out and then the whistle blew marking the start of the “race.” Jimmy was late off the blocks, a half second behind the others. He did not know it, but the coaches watched his late start. The assistant coach who was the head coach of the JV team noted Jimmy’s bad start. Jimmy recovered on the entry to the water, his open dive was long and lean, also noted. A simple race, down and back in the 50 meter pool.

Randy was way out ahead, and fast. Aiden was close behind. That was all Jimmy could easily see. In the far lanes he could see other swimmers forms, but it was hard to tell where they were in relation to him. Jimmy swam as hard as he could The wall was approaching fast, “Swim to the wall,” Jimmy told himself. He was frustrated that as he approached, Randy and Aiden were already heading back. It seemed like he was way too far behind.

Flip! Jimmy made his turn. It was a perfect flip, fast and tight. He got a fantastic push off the wall. The JV coach noted that Jimmy had the best turn. In his heat of seven, Jimmy was at fifth place heading into the turn, but barely ahead of the six the place swimmer. The swimmer in lane two blew his flip and ended up doing an awkward open turn. Jimmy shot ahead, now in fourth, the sixth place swimmer right on Jimmy’s heals. He could barely see the sixth place swimmer in lane seven. Jimmy gave it all he had. He swam harder and faster than he had ever swam before. His form suffered as he put on the gas. The coach, watching Jimmy, noted his declining technique as he put on the speed. “Fix that and he’d shave time,” the coach wrote.

Jimmy swam right to the wall. He stood, breathless. Aiden had finished four seconds ahead, Randy five. Jimmy came in a dead tie for fourth with the swimmer in lane seven. Despite the loss to Randy and Aiden along with the swimmer in lane one, Jimmy had just swam three seconds faster than his best time with Greg, a quantum leap in is time.

“Great job,” Randy said as Jimmy bent over to catch his breath.

“Thanks, you too,” Jimmy replied gasping. Randy rubbed his hand on Jimmy’s arched back.

“Wow, you killed yourself out there,” Randy added.

Aiden also reached over and congratulated Jimmy. “Pretty darn good for your first race,” Aiden said. He had dismissed Jimmy earlier, but suddenly Jimmy had credibility. He wasn’t the fastest, but he also wasn’t the last. It was the start of what was going to be a long two hours in the pool.

“Let’s get out, hot stuff,” Randy said. The three guys leaped out of the water. Their red, blue print and black wet swimsuits clinging to them. Randy smiled. He loved guys in wet suits. Jimmy was smiling now, too. He had done exactly what Greg said. The guys readied for the next challenge of the afternoon.