I joined the Grayson Valley Swim Team in the sixth grade, totally new to the world of competitive swimming. I’d always loved being in the water, floating, swimming underwater, and playing mermaids, but that kind of leisure swimming didn’t prepare me for what I was about to learn. Suddenly, things like stroke form, breathing patterns, and even body hair mattered. Every detail counted. Every second shaved off could be the difference between finishing strong and finishing last.