“The Christmas Swimming Song”

By Jeff Commings

TUCSON, Arizona, December 25. IF you are swimming on Christmas Day, it’s best not to grumble about it. Michael Phelps famously swam on Christmas Day in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics, so getting a quick workout in before opening gifts and feasting on the Christmas ham is actually a pretty good idea. (Burning some calories before gorging on Christmas cookies is also a fine plan.)

Back in 2011, I swam outdoors on a sunny Christmas Day in Arizona as I prepared for my third appearance at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. I was inspired to write an ode to a sunny morning workout sung to the tune of Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song.” Below, I am reprinting the lyric for that song.

On behalf of my colleagues at Swimming World, I want to wish you a safe and happy holiday season!

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Sunblock slathered on my nose
Backstroke flags blowing hard on a wire
I stretch my arms and say “Well, here it goes.”

Everybody knows
A pace clock and a sun that glows
Help to make a workout bright
Judging by my workout I know,
I won’t find it hard to sleep tonight

I know that Olympic Trials is on its way
That’s why I needed to swim hard on Christmas Day
And every swimming coach is gonna spy
To see if this breaststroker really does butterfly

And so I’m offering this simple phrase
To kids from 1 to 92
Don’t know if it’s been said many times, but anyways
Swim on Christmas
Koo-koo-kachoo

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