By Delaney Lanker, Swimming World College Intern
Over the past 12 years of my swimming career there are some things I always find myself repeating and explaining to non-swimmers. Like any sport, swimming has its own slang that outsiders don’t really understand. So, here are a few normal words that have been redefined by the sport of swimming.
1. Blocks
Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott
Definition: a large solid piece of hard material, especially rock, stone, or wood, typically with flat surfaces on each side.
Swim Definition: The starting platforms that are behind each lane
No, the starting blocks are not a mini diving board. It’s a uniform way to give swimmers that extra push as we plunge ourselves into the water.
2. Dryland
Photo Courtesy: Monmouth swim team
Definition: land as opposed to the sea or another body of water
Swim Definition: exercises and different strength programs swimmers do out of the water.
You know, dry land, the opposite of wet land. Abs, running, circuits, you name it, it’s just another way for coaches to make practices longer and harder. But personally, I enjoy the break from the pool.
3. Fins
Definition: a flattened appendage on various parts of the body of many aquatic vertebrates and some invertebrates, including fish and cetaceans, used for propelling, steering, and balancing.
Swim Definition: Large rubber devices that go on a swimmer’s feet.
They are not flippers. Please do not call them flippers. Yes, they make us go faster, so why do we not use them all the time? Well one, it’s cheating and two, they really hurt my ankles after a while.
But they do make me feel like a mermaid.
4. IM
Photo Courtesy: Cathleen Pruden
Definition: Instant Messaging
Swim Definition: Individual Medley. It is an event using all four strokes on consecutive lengths of the race where the order is butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.
So yes, it’s ALL the strokes, what a concept. It’s the event for those who like to do a little bit of everything.
5. Lactate
Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher/USA Today Sports Images
Definition: to produce milk.
Swim Definition: A set that mimics races by causing muscles to produce lactic acid, which gives you a higher lactate tolerance.
The amount of weird looks I get when I tell a non-swimmer that practice was a lactate set, is overwhelming. It’s called a lactate set because of all the lactic acid that builds up in your muscles after doing a lot of all out sprinting in a row. For example my coach’s classic lactate set is 6x100s off the block your best stroke. Or bless the distance swimmers who have to do 8x200s off the block.
6. Taper
Photo Courtesy: Fuel Running
Definition: diminish or reduce or cause to diminish or reduce in thickness toward one end.
Swim Definition: The resting phase at the end of the season before the championship meet.
Taper is what swimmers live for– it’s those few days of the year that we actually get to rest up, sleep and enjoy swimming. I never have loved swimming more than when I am on taper. Our muscles finally feel like they are working again and we can find speed we didn’t have earlier in the season.
Aka the most wonderful time of the year.
Haha! Fun article!
Stanley Lee
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