Just Keep Swimming

On Wednesday, the inter-college swimming and diving tournament took place at Sydney Olympic Park. Members of St. Andrews, St. Johns, Wesley, Womens, St. Pauls, and Sancta Sophia came out to compete in many races and competition in hopes of becoming the Rawson and Rosebowl champions. A bunch of my fellow Johnsmen and I went to support our swimmers and divers. Since Australia is known for its great swimming culture I was excited to see how it differed, if at all, from my swim team at home. We got there a little late due to traffic (and incorrect directions), but when we arrived they were just about to start the diving portion of the competition. I have never actually seen diving before. It was really beautiful, and it reminded me of gymnastics just instead of landing on a mat, they landed into a pool. 

The swimming was the real reason I went. As a former swimmer I was eager to compare my old times with theirs. It was hard to see where I would have placed because as opposed to a 50-meter pool that they were using, I used to compete in a 25-yard pool. Overall I was pretty impressed with the skill level of many of the swimmers. It seemed as if everyone could swim at a decent level, without much training at all. Being a former breaststroke swimmer, I noticed that of the four strokes, that was the one people had the most difficulty with. Free style was clearly everyone's dominant stroke, and then surprisingly butterfly was second. I was never able to master the butterfly, probably because I was lacking in upper-body strength.

The swimming and diving culture that I witnessed here did not differ greatly, if at all from what I am accustomed to in America. Besides for the pool length, I felt as if I could have been back in New York at one of my high school swim meets.