Needles & Grooves

Swimming is one of my favorite events.

There are SO MANY other sports to watch and if gymnastics isn't on we get literally only swimming.

If paint drying was really fast and you're watching multiple coats dry side by side and wondering which one will dry the fastest.

Swimming is thrilling IMO. I prefer the 400m events where you can see different strategies and builds working. Have you ever swam a 50m lap as fast as possible? I have and it sucks major ass and makes me want to die and comparatively it takes me a lifetime. These people smile and talk immediately afterwards, too! Just unbelievable athleticism.

Why are there so many strokes. It makes no sense.

I like that it’s usually short and quick and then it’s over. But all the fluff in between and time before each race is annoying. Also because the US is good it gets shown a lot. If the US were good at like Judo or Fencing you’d probably see them in prime time.

I am with @Ginormousthumbs on this one. I like racing in general. It’s one of the purist forms of competition. With events like Gymnastics I can appreciate the athleticism and Dressage I am amazed at dancing horses but but ultimately the winner is determined by a subjective group of judges.

"Race as fast as possible, but you have to do it backwards or with a weird overhand stroke. No you're not allowed to swim in a way that would be actually fast"

FWIW I’d happily watch Rowing or Judo or Archery or Skeet shooting also.

My daughter was a competitive swimmer for years. There are only 4 strokes: Free, fly, breast, back. And a medley of all 4. The training behind it is grueling. She was done by 11th grade because it damaged her shoulder joints.

I didn't say it wasn't hard, just that it absolutely dominates the US olympic coverage during the first week, and we don't even get a glimpse of the vast majority of sports. If you don't particularly like swimming there's just nothing else for you.

i assume by weird overhand stroke you mean the butterfly; while the front crawl is objectively faster i have so much respect for the butterfly. i grew up with swim lessons and learned every major stroke and could never get that one right. it takes so much power. I mean, look at the lats on swimmers who excel at butterfly...they're astounding

It's also like the whitest sport possible.