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Funny shot at the Pool (池中趣事)

(2012-10-17 13:30:20) 下一个
My son has been swimming for seven years. Although he got the whole bunch of medals and robins, we understand he is not talented as Phelps. When we reset our goals, swimming looks so much fun! The beautiful moments always like splash of water to jump on my memeories.

Usually I don’t just drop him off for practice as the other parents do; instead, I stay for the whole practice and watch them while doing my work. There are meets every month for the swimming team. As a volunteer, I stayed in the deck for entire session. Day by day, year by year, I have had the opportunity to see the interesting things that have happened to the swimmers. Some, made me laugh; some made me cry. Oh, those cute kids!

In practice, kids need to kick practice with boards. Hearing the coach say “Go!” the first one in all of the lines flies out like an arrow. They always compete, while watching each other. My son and his friend are good at kicking; they both went first and stuck together. On the deck, coach shouted to them, “Go! Go!”, but they only moved a little bit and got closer and closer, as twins that can not be separated. Watching from the stands, I could see they were talking with exactly same speed and same position, as two little ducks enjoying the cool water. Although they always were in first, the coach was mad; I have to say it was a beautiful picture. I know it was one of the happiest moments for my little boy.

As several times in meets for younger swimmers they would do incorrect strokes, especially in the Individual Medley competition (IM). You can observe all of the lines swimmers are doing the Butterfly stroke except two arms are stretching out for the Breast stroke; some swimmers miscount their laps because of being nervous. At those times, the swimmer couldn’t tell any difference; they are concentrating so hard to do their pull and kick, to turn and flip …They paid too much attention to their current stroke and never could hear the shouting from their teammates, coaches and parents. Of course they got DQ (disqualified) but he still won a hug and “Good job!”

If you have been to a meet, you may remember this picture everywhere. You are hearing the announcement, “Swimmers on the blocks!” “Ready----” “Set-----” he hasn’t said “GO!”(Maybe he holds this “GO” too long), one or two swimmers already have fallen into the water and have to climb up to the starting blocks again. The competition hasn’t started yet, but the laughter has filled the air. You can feel everyone is relaxing and happiness at the pool.

Swimming is a one of the best sports in the world. It improves swimmers’ physical condition and it also trains their character and willpower. At the Junior Olympic meet on this past March, I couldn’t stop my tears when I watched the 400 Butterfly competitions. When this heat started, a beautiful girl with a white cap caught my eye. She was so nimble and fast. She flew through on the water like a dolphin with little splash. Wow! I talked to my neighbor and both of us had to say: A butterfly genius! She overlapped the second swimmer for almost one lap in the first 100 yards. Excited people shouted and whistled to her. I know it will be my son’s event after this heat, so I started to check my video camera.

Suddenly, 10 seconds later, the pool became almost quiet. I was curious about what happened. When I raised my eyes to look at the pool again, I was shocked and couldn’t say anything. I saw there was a big gold flower floating on the water; it was the hair from that girl in the first place. Her white cap got stocked on a piece of chain. I didn’t realize how long it last, the girl left the chain to continue her butterfly without cap. Her thick, long hair looked like a golden ribbon, moving on the pool, as if telling a sad story. More and more people noticed her, the pool got completely silent. The only sound was the water splashing. The second girl caught her up, the third came, next one closed…….one by one, all swimmers touched the wall and got their time, and then they turned and watched the girl wordlessly.

The last girl without the cap was struggling but she finished! Without talking, people applauded for her at the same time and watched her go back to get her cap. I didn’t how the girl felt but I really wanted to hold her in my arms and tell her: “You are really good! You were in the first place and you will be in the first again!”

Because I usually take care of everything, my son is often oblivious about his own stuff. If I don’t ask him to check, he usually will forget to bring a towel, or goggles, or even a swim suit. If he doesn’t lose something at a meet, it is a miracle. Finally he had to deal with his carelessness. It was a big meet that was for qualified swimmers. The 200 free strokes just started, I stood on the deck and watched him get off the block fast. I kept shouting “Go!”

Although I knew he couldn’t hear me, every time I still lost my voice, like all the other excited parents. As if he heard me, before he was going to touch the wall, he turned his face to me and swam back to the block, slowly, very slowly!

The other kids accelerated into the wall and exploded off it, and, they caught him in seconds.

I was in a shock and shouted again: “What’s wrong? Why did you stop?”
His face was red, and without a word, he just climbed to the deck with all of the timers staring at him.

I couldn’t understand why he only swam 25 yards in this 200 free; it is one of his favorite and best strokes! Why???

Then he walked close, I could hear him murmur with embarrassment,
“My suit came off…”

I looked at him and realized he didn’t tie his suit firmly! I had to keep from laughing, instead I comforted him, “Ok, we’ll wait for next time!’

Later, his teammates and coach joked with him. Luckily he also laughed with them and didn’t feel bad anymore, but I hope he will learn a big lesson and be more responsible for himself from then. Well, until now, it never happened again.

After meets, we always take him to Dairy Queen for a celebration. My son is proud of himself, “I know I didn’t get a DQ (disqualified), and so you bring me to DQ( Dairy Queen), right?”

What a naughty boy!
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