HKSSF Swimming Day 1

HKSSF Division Two swimming heats took place last Friday. As the day approached my excitement grew. I was certain that I could get into the final in my main individual event, the 50m butterfly, as I had last year, and perhaps even be a contender for a medal, as my personal time had recently reached a personal best of 30.26 seconds and I felt I could drop that further.



youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PcAL8DQEX8&feature=channel_video_title

Unfortunately, when the time came, I did not perform to expectations, stopping the clock at 31.17, 10th place and cut off from the finals. Upon completing the race, I knew immediately without even looking at the clock that I had not made the final. My reaction time had been slow, I took 1 fewer underwater dolphins then planned, and then had a horrible breakout that had me expend extra energy getting into the pace of my stroke. Combined with having gone all out in inter-house cross-country the previous day, I had completely run out of energy by the last 20m or so, and then touching the wall with a glide rather than a full stroke. Watching the video, graciously taken by Victor at my request, I see that I was stroking at the same pace as the person in the next lane, lane 5, until the second half of the 50m, when I started falling back. In the end, that person got into the finals with a sub-30 time. Not to be arrogant, but judging from my knowledge of my own ability, I strongly believe that I could have kept up if not for fatiguing prematurely due to cross country the previous day.

After my 50 fly, I also took part in the 4x50m medley relay. Although our team came 10th in 2:13:30, falling short of the top eight again, I met my goal of proving to myself that I could indeed go faster than 31 in 50fly. I spit a 30.78... which would have made the final in 7th place. 

Although I did not manage to make the finals in either event, I take heart in the fact that I will still be at finals day completing in the 200IM, which is a straight-final event. At first, when I was slated to swim the 200IM, I was, to put it lightly, unenthusiastic. Now, however, it appears it was a blessing in disguise.