Viking and her Father approach the water…
“Father?”
“Yes, Viking”
“Do you think I will ever be fast enough to swim in the boy’s relay?”
“I think that is very possible, Viking. You just need to work on your swim stroke more.”
How to Swim Fast with a Better Swim Stroke…
“Will you show me what I can do better with my swimming stroke, Father?”
“Certainly. Now swim out to those rocks and back, and I’ll see how you are swimming. Remember to cup your hands, and gently place them through the water, even though you are trying to do it very fast.
Try not to fight or slap the water, and be as smooth as you can. Then, keep your flutter kick very strong, and breathe less often.”
“Yes, Father. This time I will swim so fast.”
“Off to the starting rocks then.”
“You mean over there with the shallow, rocky bottom?”
“Yes, Viking.”
“But Father, I will scrape myself on the rocks.”
“Only if you dive the wrong way. Not if you dive the right way before swimming. In order to swim fast, and race with the boys, your dive has to be better than theirs, and it will make your swimming faster.”
“How do I not scrape myself?”
“You have to make your dive before swimming much longer and stretched out to get past the danger below, and when you hit the water, you will stay as close to the water surface as you can. If you think about being as long and flat and shallow as possible over the water, you will clear the danger.”
“Okay, I think I can do it!”
Swimmimg Faster Starts with The Right Dive Over the Water…
Viking steps to the rocks above the sharp shallows. She is nervous, but confident she can follow her father’s instructions to better her swimming stroke. When she faces a challenge, she feels stronger.
“Swimmer take your mark!”
Viking bends down to touch the ground at her feet, waiting for her starting command, and thinking about each stroke…
“Go!”
She pushes off, and makes her body shoot like an arrow over the water.
She sees the sharp edges through the clear water, as she flies over them.
How to Swim…
The danger disappears, and there is only blue water below. She enters the water just at the surface with her fingertips and forehead, and extends forward even more. She clears, and breaks into her swimming stroke and kick, except the one small scrape she can feel on her big toe.
Now She is Swimming…
She flutter kicks hard and strong, and swims her hands, cupped and pulling through with each stroke. She holds her breath longer, and keeps swimming while thinking about each carefully placed stroke with her arms, hands and fingers.
A Swimming Finish…
She reaches and touches the last rock wall with her last stroke under her father’s feet, and grabs her long-waited breath.
“How was that swim, Father?”
“That swim was pretty impressive…fast indeed. Did you scrape yourself?”
“Just my toe.”
“Let’s see.”
“Oh, it’s just a scratch. Let’s go home and show it to your Mother. She’ll take care of it. We can tell her about your fast swim and best dive today.
You did well today, Viking.”
He picks up her special helmet he had made for her, and places it on her head. He pats the top, and looks her in the eyes and smiles.
“Well done my daughter.”
Viking picks up a flower, and puts it in her hair, and smiles back.
