As I stand on the diving board, I notice that everyone is nervous about this one. They are the last swimmers and obviously want to be the fastest.
I hear So-young encouraging me with her loudest voice and some of my classmates that finished the tryouts already were cheering for me.
"Wooooo!!! Min-chul! Win, win, win!"
"Min-chul! Min-chul!"
I see Mi-cha and Young-jae watching on the sidelines. I guess they finished fairly quickly with their tryouts, huh? I give them all a big smile before returning my gaze to the pool.
I look around and take a deep breath...ahhhhhh, the smell of cold air and chlorine is a beautiful combination I never thought I'd smell again.
I tighten my goggles are my head, tap my rash guard to stick closer to my body and shake my hands of the sweat that's covering them.
[you do know you don't need to care about sweaty hands in a pool right?]
'It's psychological Feelie!'
[huh...humans are really weird]
I start tuning out Feelie to concentrate on this race. It's 100 meter freestyle and I need to beat little babies. Simple enough but my stamina might run out somewhere.
I look at my competition and to be honest, some of them aren't even competition. Some look fairly overweight and too soft to want to be in a varsity team. As if they are being forced by their parents to join.
The only competition that might be would be lane 4 and lane 8. The kid on lane 4 actually chose to wear no rash guard which would help him in going quicker; he seems like he wants to be here.
And plus, he is fairly fit for a baby.
The gal on lane 8 has short hair in a pixie cut and generally looks like a tomboy. Her stomach looks tight and she has multiple scars on her knees and arms, most likely from roughhousing.
Another tough cookie to break. Nothing I can't handle however.
*BRRRPPP*
Hearing the sound of the whistle, I ready myself with my arms posture; streamline and straight for maximum speed!
*BRRRPPP*
The second whistle made me bend my knees to almost a squat while wrapping my toes around the edge of the diving board. I keep my head down as well to give more room to my arms.
*BRRRPPP*
I shake my head at the third whistle and ready myself for this. It's been around 35 years since I competed in a competitive swimming race, counting my previous life and this life.
I start thinking about how Mi-young got me into this sport. Damn! I can't wait to grow up! For Mi-young!!!!!
I hype myself up for the last whistle with my best motivation and finally...
*BBBRRRRRPPPPP*
I hear the whistle and jump the farther my legs can push me. Even though my strength is just a little over half of the average man, compared to the other toddlers, I look like Superman.
I use dolphin kick under the water and when I get up to take my first breath, I can't help but be astounded by the site beside me; nothing.
No one is there and they are so far behind just from the jump. I guess kicking strength is no joke, eh?
When holding my breath underwater again, curiously look back and see that they weren't as far back as I though. Well, lane 4 and lane 8 at least.
Even though both of them are right beside my feet, they are still keeping up with my pace for the most part while the other lanes...yeah, they probably beat it and stopped thinking of this as a race.
They aren't even at the feet of lane 8 for crying out loud!
After reaching the end point, I flip in the water and turn around, much to the amazement of those watching. Mwuahahahahaha!!! I'm too good!
Soon after I touch the wall, maybe 4 to 5 seconds later, lane 4 and lane 8 touch the wall before turning around in a normal fashion. They aren't even behind my feet now so I guess it will be an intense fight for 2nd place.
"Go Min-chul! Wooowooo!"
"Min-chul!"
"Woah! Lane 3 is fast!"
With all of the support from the spectators, even Coach K is baffled by my speed. It's the first time he's seen a child my age this fast. Probably.
Once I start the second lap, I'm already tired and am having some trouble breathing. I see that while I'm near the middle of the pool on lap 2, lane 4 and lane 8 are just starting.
Once I touch the end of the pool, my breath leaves me and I start breathing on every pull. The kids on lane 4 and lane 8 have already been breathing on every pull since the start of lap 2.
'Jesus! This is much harder than I thought!!!'
[uhuh...I mean, you are still 7]
I see the end of the lap and start swimming as fast as I can, using every single bit of energy I had left. I reach out my hand and touch the end and stand up while gasping for air.
Looking around, I see that lane 4 and lane 8 are both right at the midway point. Hehe, seems like I've won, huh?
We wait for a few more seconds before Coach K lets us go up. Everyone is looking at me like I'm some sort of swimming God.
P.S: I am. Mwuahahahaha!
"Uhhhh...Yun Kyung-mi, lane 8, you got a time of 1:59.92. Great job!"
Once Kyung-mi heard it, her and her friends jumped to hug each other. Under two minutes is a really hard thing to do for little toddlers and even if she is barely under two minutes, they can't help but celebrate.
"Uhuh, hmmm...Muk Man-young, lane 4, you got a time of 1:50.84. Amazing time, Man-young ah!"
""WOOOOO!!""
Man-young, one of the more popular kids in grade 3, celebrated his time with his friends as well. His time is immensely fast and not many people can beat that.
However, after their loud celebrations, all of the kids turn their eyes to look over at me. After all, when I finished, lane 8 and lane 4, who got under one minute, were still at the halfway mark of the pool.
So-young, Young-jae and Mi-cha were already hugging me since they figured my time would be super quick; maybe 1:40 or even 1:30.
"Waaaa! You're so fast Min-chul oppa!" (Mi-cha)
Once Mi-cha said that, So-young turned her head to look at Mi-cha with widened eyes and a hand on her heart...ahhh, she's touched by Mi-cha's praise for me?
[no you idiot! Sh- she is VERY touched by your performance]
'Ahh, that's right...'
"Yes. Amazing job, Min-chul!" (Young-jae)
"Un...Min-chul oppa is so fast!" (So-young)
So-young quickly snaps out of her daze and returns to her usual cheery self. She smiles widely at me as coach K is about to announce my actual time.
Crossing my fingers, I start praying to whoever is up there for an amazingly fast time! Come on come on! 1:30!!! Maybe quicker!
"Alrighty. Min-chul, you got 1:27.94. That's the fastest time so far; great swim kids!"
'Haah??? What the heck? Did I hear wrong or did I get a time under 1:30'
Just like me, most of the swimming kids are all surprised they thought hat maybe I'll get a low 30's time but 1:27? Isn't that too insane? That's not just too insane! It's incredibly insane for 7 year old.
And all of the others coaches know this.
There are coaches from the middle and high school RF teams overseeing us and seeing my performance, most of their eyes almost popped out of their skulls.
Everyone was stunned except So-young who quickly hugged me with all her strength. We started celebrating by jumping up and down.
In the background of our little celebration however was a serious discussion between Coach K and the other coaches.
"That boy...Min-chul you said? Do you plan on admitting him in any competitions soon?"
"Not right now. Maybe when he turns 8 or 9 but for now, I believe we should let him play around"
Nodding their heads, the head of the physical education department, the head coach of the aquatic sports department, the head coach of the RF Candirus and the head coach of the RF Sharks all start thinking about something inexplicable.
The Candirus are RF's most famous high school swim team; they are the best of the best in Korea in the high school swim scene. The Sharks are the same but for the middle school stage.
Won-shik, a triple Olympic gold medalist started out at Sharks and Candirus. Going to these teams is an honor that not many can possess and right now, they are already thinking about the future of kid who isn't even 10.
"That seems like the right decision, Kwan. Watch out for him as well as that Mi-sun girl. She will be a good addition to the RF Mantas. Man-young isn't too bad as well"
"I was thinking the same thing...I'll also train Kyung-mi and So-young for the Mantas"
"Yeah, seems like a good decision"
The Mantas are basically the female version of the Sharks; middle school women's swimming. The high school team is also called the Candirus and both are amazing at raising famous swimmers.
Unknown to this, Min-chin returns home to his mom to talk about his day.
"Mom! I got in!"
"Woooowww!! My little baby!"
As she hugs be with all her strength, I see Jung sitting at the dinner table with another band-aid on his eyebrow. Haaahhh, he can't get enough of fights, huh?
Come to think of it, he does dye his hair blond and starts getting into so many fights it might as well be a manhwa where the MC beats up gang members.
I finish my dinner and return to my room. Mom tucks me in and since I'm already fairly grown up, she stopped singing me lullabies to sleep. Also because I requested it.
Dozing off, I can't help but smirk. Today was an amazing day for me.
'Night night mom, Jung, dad, Feelie'
Falling asleep, Min-chul starts reaming about going to the olympics and meeting the ho- cool female swimmers.
[night night Min-chul.....]
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(A.N) yo! Another chapter for you readers and I hope you throughly enjoyed this chapter for today! Please do support with commenting, adding to library, reviewing and voting with powerstones! Thank you so much to the returning readers, peace ✌️!