It was a long time ago, I was 13 or 14 years old and the state champion for the 50 m individual medley in my age bracket. I was competing at the state champs, I'd drawn lane 4 in the final so I was the favourite again.
The pool was packed with spectators. While on the blocks crouching down after 'set', I noticed the strings of my buggie-smugglers was not tied. The gun fired, I dived in the pool, I swam the first fifty meters butterfly with my smugglers around my ankles. Turning was difficult, I attempted to pull my smugglers up at every turn, unsuccessfully. I can't remember how I did breaststroke. Needless to say I came last.
The officials at the blocks officiating on swimmers turns were very sympathetic. Word got around at school what happened which ment for a number of months I had to deal with silly jokes.
I didn't swim much after that, don't think it affected me at all, it's just a funny story! Now!
The pool was packed with spectators. While on the blocks crouching down after 'set', I noticed the strings of my buggie-smugglers was not tied. The gun fired, I dived in the pool, I swam the first fifty meters butterfly with my smugglers around my ankles. Turning was difficult, I attempted to pull my smugglers up at every turn, unsuccessfully. I can't remember how I did breaststroke. Needless to say I came last.
The officials at the blocks officiating on swimmers turns were very sympathetic. Word got around at school what happened which ment for a number of months I had to deal with silly jokes.
I didn't swim much after that, don't think it affected me at all, it's just a funny story! Now!
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