The Ultimate Swimming Bucket List

The Ultimate Swimming Bucket List

One of my favorite parts of the Olympic Trials is watching lifelong dreams come true. The difficult training and numerous sacrifices finally pay off in the best way possible. Achieving an Olympic berth is one of the most notable accomplishments in the world of swimming, but what about the swimmers who may not have Olympic-sized dreams? In light of the individuals who recently achieved their Olympic dreams, here’s a list of goals or bucket list items that are more attainable for the typical swimmer.

Swim Every Event

Now this may sound like torture to some. Personally, I couldn’t imagine swimming all 16 events, but I understand the appeal of checking off all those boxes. As grueling as a 200 butterfly or 400 IM is, there’s just something about completing every possible event. It’s the cherry on top of any swimming career.

Cause a False Start

Connor Dwyer consoles himself after a false start in the 400 freestyle.

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

This one might be slightly embarrassing. I recall one false start I caused which resulted in someone toppling head over heels into the water. After apologizing profusely and hoping I wouldn’t be disqualified, we carried on as normal. However, I would not recommend.

Participate in a Swimoff

Personally, I would love to participate in a swimoff. The idea of battling someone who was your exact equal in prelims is enticing. The high stakes of the race are bound to produce interesting results. Conversely, it sounds incredibly nerve-wracking. What if I lose? Or worse… what if we tie again? I’m sure it’s happened to someone.

Swim the Wrong Stroke in a Race

Now this one would DEFINITELY be embarrassing, but it’d make for a great story later. I’ve witnessed this multiple times at summer league meets. It’s endearing when little kids do it, but humiliating as a seasoned year-round swimmer. There really isn’t much you can do. Play it off and try to preserve as much of your dignity as possible.

Rip a Tech Suit

A very expensive mishap. This has happened to me on several occasions, and it stings every time. Whether it happens pre-, mid-, or post-race, this is one of the worst feelings a swimmer can experience. It’s comparable to the loss of a friend or trusted companion.

Miscounting in a Race

Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

Picture this: You’re swimming the 200 freestyle of your life. You’ve paced it perfectly, and you’re in the lead. You’ve got the perfect song stuck in your brain, and you put your head down and finish the race. The crowd goes wild. Your coach is jumping up and down, screaming something as you take off your cap and goggles. The person next to you does a flip turn. Oh no. The person next to you does a flip turn. You scramble as quickly as you can to make up for lost time, but it’s already too late. Counting eight laps is easier said than done.

Win a Race with Waterlogged Goggles

Very Michael Phelps 200 butterfly, circa 2008. There’s something about victory in the face of adversity that makes it a little bit sweeter. With that being said, this is no easy feat. Waterlogged goggles are extremely disorienting, and the mere thought of the stinging chlorine is enough to make any swimmers eyes water. Restrictions may apply to swimmers who wear contact lenses.

All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

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