6 Words Out of the Swim Dictionary

Photo Courtesy: MissMessie via Flickr

By Delaney Lanker, Swimming World College Intern

Over the past 12 years of my swimming career there are some things I always find myself repeating and explaining to non-swimmers. Like any sport, swimming has its own slang that outsiders don’t really understand. So, here are a few normal words that have been redefined by the sport of swimming.

1. Blocks

Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott

Definition: a large solid piece of hard material, especially rock, stone, or wood, typically with flat surfaces on each side.

Swim Definition: The starting platforms that are behind each lane

No, the starting blocks are not a mini diving board. It’s a uniform way to give swimmers that extra push as we plunge ourselves into the water.

2. Dryland

Photo Courtesy: Monmouth swim team

Definition: land as opposed to the sea or another body of water

Swim Definition: exercises and different strength programs swimmers do out of the water.

You know, dry land, the opposite of wet land. Abs, running, circuits, you name it, it’s just another way for coaches to make practices longer and harder. But personally, I enjoy the break from the pool.

3. Fins

Definition: a flattened appendage on various parts of the body of many aquatic vertebrates and some invertebrates, including fish and cetaceans, used for propelling, steering, and balancing.

Swim Definition: Large rubber devices that go on a swimmer’s feet.

They are not flippers. Please do not call them flippers. Yes, they make us go faster, so why do we not use them all the time? Well one, it’s cheating and two, they really hurt my ankles after a while.

But they do make me feel like a mermaid.

4. IM

Photo Courtesy: Cathleen Pruden

Definition: Instant Messaging

Swim Definition: Individual Medley. It is an event using all four strokes on consecutive lengths of the race where the order is butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

So yes, it’s ALL the strokes, what a concept. It’s the event for those who like to do a little bit of everything.

5. Lactate

Jul 18, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Caitlin Leverenz of the United States dives into the pool at the start of the women's swimming 200m individual medley final during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Pan Am Aquatics UTS Centre and Field House. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher/USA Today Sports Images

Definition: to produce milk.

Swim Definition: A set that mimics races by causing muscles to produce lactic acid, which gives you a higher lactate tolerance.

The amount of weird looks I get when I tell a non-swimmer that practice was a lactate set, is overwhelming. It’s called a lactate set because of all the lactic acid that builds up in your muscles after doing a lot of all out sprinting in a row. For example my coach’s classic lactate set is 6x100s off the block your best stroke. Or bless the distance swimmers who have to do 8x200s off the block.

6. Taper

Photo Courtesy: Fuel Running

Definition: diminish or reduce or cause to diminish or reduce in thickness toward one end.

Swim Definition: The resting phase at the end of the season before the championship meet.

Taper is what swimmers live for– it’s those few days of the year that we actually get to rest up, sleep and enjoy swimming. I never have loved swimming more than when I am on taper. Our muscles finally feel like they are working again and we can find speed we didn’t have earlier in the season.

Aka the most wonderful time of the year.

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Swimmer

8 years ago

Haha! Fun article!

Jill L Klepzig

8 years ago

Stanley Lee

Brightie Rowlands

8 years ago

Isak Bird Matthew Allie Chris Allie Kyle Taute Katie Kubach Lucas Kirwan Tadhg Waddington