Olympic Dreams

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

Jimmy was so excited, he had never swam in a university pool. The idea of getting to swim in the same pool Greg had just swam in was totally cool in Jimmy’s mind. “You think I can?” Jimmy asked.

“Let’s go ask coach,” Greg said. “Come with me. I can lend you one of my swimsuits.”

“Got mine on already,” Jimmy said sheepishly, pulling the side of his shorts down slightly to reveal it to Greg. For some reason, Jimmy felt weird about having worn a swimsuit under his shorts.

“Too funny,” Greg replied. “Guess you are ready to swim.” Jimmy was warmed by Greg’s acceptance.

“I wore it for good luck for you,” Jimmy added with a smile. Greg wrapped his arm around his adopted brother. Greg was touched by Jimmy’s act.

Jimmy was only allowed to swim for a few laps, coach really wanted Greg to get to dinner and get back to the dorm and get some sleep. Jimmy was fine with even one lap, just the chance to swim in that pool, Greg’s pool. After a quick shower for Jimmy, the two guys stood at the edge of lane two.

“Okay, get one the block,” Greg said. “Four laps of free, flip turns and all, and I want you to launch like it is a real race. I’ll do the calls.”

Jimmy mounted the starting block, he looked as much a real swimmer as the guys in the meet. His red and white print swimsuit clinging to him from the wetness of the shower. He was actually nervous. He readied his position. Greg made a few adjustments in his stance. “Just perfecting your stance,” Greg said as he did it. “Step forward a bit, right to the edge of the block,” Greg asked.

“Like this?” Jimmy asked.

“Perfect,” Greg replied. Monique watched as the older Greg fussed over the younger Jimmy, who she did think looked stunning in his Speedo suit. Jimmy’s physique really had matured as a result of all his swimming. He was far from the skinny kid in blue Kmart swim shorts. Monique was not the only one watching. The coach was also standing back, observing, along with the coach from South Carolina (USA).

“Swimmers mark” Called Greg. He followed the next command a few seconds later and watched as Jimmy’s focus became intense. “Go!” came the last command. Monique secretly snapped cell phone pictures of the whole thing. She’d share them with the boys later.

Jimmy was off, it was by no means a picture perfect launch, but it was a good one for Jimmy. “Go Jimmy!” yelled Greg. It was a role reversal from just a few hours earlier. He watched as Jimmy made his way down the pool, a good flip turn and back up, Jimmy’s first lap was in just under 45 seconds. His second and third were the same, and his fourth was actually faster as he pushed the last twenty five, cutting almost two seconds off. Jimmy stood at the wall.

“That was fantastic,” Greg said. “You swam really well!”

“This is so cool,” Jimmy replied.

“Okay warm down lap, slow.” Greg directed.

In the locker room, changing out of the wet swimsuit into the dry one Greg tossed him, Jimmy was really pumped up. It had been such a cool treat to swim in the university pool. Jimmy gave Greg a big hug. “Thanks, Greg!” Jimmy said several times. For both guys, it was the end of a perfect swimming day.