5 Swimming Videos to Sit Down and Watch
The world of swimming has far too many great videos to choose which is best. Here are 5 that definitely deserve to be mentioned in a list of favorites.
2016 Rio Olympics – Men’s 50 Freestyle Final
Anthony Ervin’s 50 freestyle in the 2016 Olympics was even more exciting than it was in the 2000 Olympics. He took home the gold medal in this event at age 19 in 2000, and again at age 35 in 2016. This inspirational and crazy comeback should stand as a reminder that no amount of time away from swimming should discourage you from getting back in the water, and it’s never too late to reach your goals. Plus, the 50 freestyle is always a fun race to watch.
‘Average Andy’ With Michael Phelps
The difficulty of swimming is not adequately recognized by non-swimmers, except maybe during the swim test for high school gym. This video is not only a reminder of how hard our sport is to a regular person, but also a reminder of Michael Phelps’ grace in the water. It is part of a segment called ‘Average Andy’ on The Ellen Show, where Ellen DeGeneres’ executive producer, Andy Lassner, attempts activities with professionals. Who better to show Andy how to do butterfly than Phelps himself? From Andy’s enthusiastic flip-turns to him riding on Phelps’ back, this video is a guaranteed laugh. Andy can actually swim freestyle pretty well, but next to Phelps, he looks pretty… well, average.
2016 Rio Olympics – Women’s 100 Freestyle Final
For Simone Manuel, the 2016 Olympics were successful. At the end of her extraordinary performance in the 100 freestyle, she became the first African-American female swimmer to win an individual medal at the Olympics. Not only did she get on the podium, but she won gold in a tie with Penny Oleksiak of Canada. This race has it all: An olympic record, a fantastic underdog performance by both Manuel and Oleksiak and the making of history. The best part, however, is Manuel’s priceless reaction when she sees the scoreboard.
2008 Beijing Olympics- Men’s 400 Freestyle Relay Final
In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, excitement reached a new level with France and the U.S. facing off in the 400 freestyle relay final. This gold medal was one of the eight that led Michael Phelps to his record-breaking eight golds in Beijing. From the start through Jason Lezak’s epic anchor leg, watching this race will give you a rush of adrenaline, goosebumps, or both. This video is a great reminder of the excitement of racing. Relays, especially, are the epitome of why swimming is a team sport. And it just might emphasize the importance of a strong last 50.
2016 USA Olympic Swim Team Carpool Karaoke
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that the swimmers on Team USA have a life outside the pool. It’s just as odd for me to picture Katie Ledecky going grocery shopping, as it is for me to imagine my ninth-grade math teacher spending time with her kids. In 2016, the U.S. Olympic Team recorded this iconic carpool karaoke. It’s complete with coordinated outfits, drive thru orders, and a call from Michael Phelps’ mom. This video serves as a reminder of how fun and real these world-class swimmers are – and how much we all would love to be on this team.