History...Swimming

Athlete. A word that he would not have used to describe himself. That is until his teacher had persuaded him to join the swim team. Despite his arguments to the contrary his teacher had managed to convince him that it would be a good idea to dress in a skin tight lycra, jammer style, bathing suit, and compete. Promising that he would be fine as long as he could swim from one end of the pool to the other, without looking like a complete idiot.

A week argument to say the least. What he failed to mention was that the school was part of one of the most competitive swimming divisions in the state. Another minor omission, was that swimming fast, takes hard work. Lots of it.

The first practice was a disaster, convinced that he needed to pump up his muscles so he didn't look like a total moron in the water he performed a full bodyweight workout, the first time he had ever done such a thing. Unfortunately, because he was not yet a hardened athlete, in deed describing any part of him as hard would be amusing, trying to perform a whole new workout regimen, and take on a new sport, in the same day just didn’t work. Within minutes, his shoulders were straining, his breathing was labored, and his legs were sinking.

After 1000 meters the coach called it quits, not that he needed to, everyone was finished anyways. Ready to approach the coach and demand that he be allowed to quite this insanely difficult activity he was startled to see the coach walking purposefully towards him, a look in his eyes.

“Good work today” That was all, a simple acknowledgement that he had been watching, an acknowledgment that he had seen the hard work. It was in that moment that he decided that he was an athlete. Not for the social standing being a varsity athlete gave, not for the freedom being away from the house an additional two to three hours gave, but for the feeling that came from someone watching, and complimenting what they saw. Oh, and the half naked girls didn't hurt.