The familiar, pungent, sour smell of chlorine infiltrates my senses as soon as I step through the door. I readjust my green, silicone swim cap on my hair and fiddle with my reflective, rubber goggles before taking my mark; leaning down and grasping the tough, rugged end of the diving block. Take your marks. When the beep sounds, I push forcefully off and quickly tuck in my head. Muscle memory kicks in and my legs snap together. Time seems infinite as I soar through the air before swiftly gliding into the cool, blue water. Pause. Everything pauses. The world seemingly slows down. But, it's just an illusion. Breaking the surface of the water, my arms whip fiercly past my ears and over my head as my legs kick together in the syncronized motion of a strong dolphin kick. I repeat the count of one breath for every two combinations on a consistent loop in my mind as I continue to swim. Fast. Faster. Fastest. I smile and halt to a stop at the end, my hands slamming down on the wall to announce my arrival. Damn, I love to fly.
