In the wild and chaotic world of a single swimming pool, there are many types of swimmers in the water. How many of your friends fit into these categories? Here are the top ten most common types of swimmers:

The Lane Leader: They’re basically a mix of a robot and a human, swimming with precision and doling out orders as if preparing for WWIII. This swimmer has reached the peak of respectability, diligently counting laps and remembering intervals for the main set. Even during the dreaded long freestyle main set, they pave the way for struggling swimmers behind them. All swimmers look up to them for support and leadership.

The Lane Line Puller: While many swimmers occasionally succumb to the temptation to grab the lane line, this swimmer does it perpetually. This person is always the fastest during the backstroke sets, obviously. Racing across the lane might seem fun until the coach catches notice.

The Terrible Toe-Toucher: Toe-touching is the ultimate swimming pet peeve. All is serene until this swimmer appears, constantly grasping at your feet and leeching off your energy. When you finally yield at the wall, allowing them to go first, they unexpectedly swim at a much slower pace. Toe-touchers usually emerge during the main set and are the cause of most arguments.

The Set Skipper: Spotted in the deep end, this swimmer always seeks excuses to avoid sets. From claiming a stomach ache to feigning a cramp, they’re experts at evading swimming. Unless it’s a severe injury or medical condition, there’s little reason to skip practice. Sometimes you can see them hanging out at the bottom of the pool, just like a sunken battleship. 

The Once-A-Year Appearance Swimmer: Every team has one–the individual who appears randomly, armed with an elaborate excuse such as a broken arm or a mysterious month-long illness, usually attributed to partying or vacationing in Florida. Then they go on to complain about how slow they’ve gotten at swimming, using at an excuse for not improving. 

The Try-Hard Swimmer: While striving during practice is admirable, this person takes it to extremes. From sprinting during warm-ups to attempting a dominating lead, they often end up last when the main set concludes. 

The Energetic Swimmer: The source of energy during early morning practices, this swimmer maintains a contagious enthusiasm, serving as a personal cheerleader and offering snacks after practice. Their energy levels seem heaven-sent.

The One Who Doesn’t Know the Set: Despite clear explanations from the coach, this swimmer asks about the main set right before it commences. With the memory of a goldfish, their greatest fear is leading the lane due to their confusion. “Huh?” “What are we doing?”

The “Coach, We Didn’t Finish the Set” Swimmer: When everyone’s fatigued, and the end is near, this swimmer draws attention to the unfinished set, much to the chagrin of their teammates. When the coach seems to forget about the set and asks if the team has finished, this person raises their hand, and to the dismay of the swimmers, tells the coach that the team still has one more. They often come across as *cough* the coach’s pet. 

The Hungry Swimmer: Every swimmer can relate with this one, as constant hunger and thoughts about the next meal are synonymous with being a swimmer.