How would someone get involved swimming competitively?
94504
If you're in school, you can join the swim team. If not, check with your local YMCA and see if they have any swimming leagues. =)
488272
Get yourself into tournaments.  That should get you started.
1155735
Be encouraged that if you seriously set a goal to improve your time, then you will!  These are some steps to take along the way.  First, work with experienced and trustworthy tutors to learn swim techniques.  Ask several coaches to watch you swim and accept their corrections and suggestions. Practice what works for you and discard what doesn't.  If possible, select one coach to encourage you, time you, spur you on.  Second, borrow books from the library about swimming, watch video tapes, and you will discover a lot.  Read Total Immersion material. You will be fascinated with your reading.  Also, research your topic on line to find articles about backstroke and freestyle.   Third, working your fast twitch muscles will help you improve time.  As you improve in technique, then -- and only then --practice harder and faster swims each time you get in the water.  Watch the clock and try to improve each week.  Most importantly, have patience with yourself and be less self-critical.  Let go of negative thoughts and stay positive.  A great deal of swimming is mental activity so stay positive.    As you practice new techniques to improve your strokes, you will find yourself improving, getting a better feel for the water.  In the end, you might surprise yourself with an improved attitude and an incredible mind-set about life.
971108
In swimming you get ribbons also if you are really good you can win trophies swimming is a very competitive sportUnless it is a lower level.
124465
Not a swim champ but I may be able to help with your workouts.\nFirst thing is to set goals for yourself. Your goal can be as simple as "swim at least 3 times a week" or "do a new drill for each of the strokes each and every practice." Then set goals to improve your time  or distances. Setting goals help to motivate.\nAnother way to stay motivated is to get a partner or join a swim program. With a partner you need to be committed. Have your partner design the workouts for this week and you do the workouts for next week. Assuming you are of age, join the Masters swim program. This way you can make new friends.\nCross training helps keep varity in your workout. Run walk or jog in place of one of your swim workouts. Even better, jog to and from your swim workouts.\nTo get new ideas for workouts. Swim magazines usually have sections with ready made workouts. Swim books usually have a chapter on workouts also.
194844
Well, since you posted this in the swimming category, I'm assuming you want to be a better swimmer.  I used to swim competitively and I'm only 5'5".  Try stretching to increase your flexibility.  Along with strong kicking (which you can work on by lifting weights), you should be a good competitor.
896869
Within Denver, the one I know of is Foothills.  Their web site is http://www.foothillsswimteam.com/index.php\nI'd go to USA Swimming's Virtual Club Championship and look at the higher ranked programs in your area.  The ranking on VCC isn't foolproof, but it should give you a good idea of where to start.  The rankings on the Colorado programs are here http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/Report/ReportHolder.aspx?TabId=901&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en&ItemId=35&mid=2594 and you can find Colorado club web sites here http://www.usaswimming.org/usasweb/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=503&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en\nWhat I would do is look at a few of the web sites, try to get their results from some big meets so you can see the times of other swimmers your age and see how they compare to your own.  Then after you've narrowed your choices down to a couple teams, you should be able to train with the team for a week for free (if you can't, i'd take that as a bad sign that the club is more interested in money than in recuriting and training quality swimmers), so try out a few teams and see what you think.
562460
If someone is hanging on you, go under water.  They'll let go, trust me.  Then swim behind them, put your arm around their chest, like in a half-nelson, and start swimming them in.  If you haven't been extensively trained in doing this, use some kind of equipment or get help.
117231
It's been like 3 years since i swam for the USS swmming organization so I forgot that exact info.  But you basically have to qualify for the US Olympic trials.  Then I believe the top 2 placers are taken from each event and given a spot on the US olympic team.  To make it to this olympic trial meet you basically have to be some of the top in the nation, winning sectional and national competitions.  If your friend is a swimmer for an organized team than he probably already knows this stuff.  Now all this sounds simple but when you take a look at the training of these top athletes it isn't as easy as it sounds.  These guys probably have minimum of 15 hrs of training a week.  Many do double practices, one in early morning and one in the evening.  They were genetically gifted for the sport, train with the bests team, and are dedicated year-round.
529090
i've swam competitively for many years and done many triathlons that have open water starts. some of the differences i see:\n\nin the sea the water tastes like salt.\nin the pool it tastes like chlorine.\nin a lake it tastes like dirt.\n\nin the pool you can follow the black line at the bottom of the pool for direction.\nin open water you have to find markers on the horizon (i.e. ligthouse, rocks, bouys).\n\nin the pool you can breath by turning your head slightly to the side.\nin the open you usually have to bring your head up higher to avoid the waves and to find you markers in the distance.\n\nin the pool you get to flip turn every 25 yards or 50 meters.\nin the open after long distances you usually have to swap to a stroke besides freestyle for a few seconds to stretch your back out (you don't realize this in a pool).\n\nWhen racing in a pool its one person per lane.\nWhen racing in an open water setting its every man for himself (you can draft, pull, yank, and dunk people. its all legal although not very polite).\n\nOver all swimming in a pool is easier because it is a controlled environment. lane lines minimize wake between lanes and you don't have to worry about other people. Visibility in a pool is generally better than in open water, and the water temperature is fairly constant in a pool.
1083333
equip weights to your ankles and things on your hands that make it hard for you to swim.  those will help you out
772716
The only way to become a stronger swimmer is to swim more! Join a swim team and 4 laps will be nothing after a few weeks.\n\nIt does seem lifeguards are kind of jerks, but they are doing their job and don't want anyone to drown,  Can you imagine what it would be like if you let someone drown?  The person drowning also might be inconvenienced.
694675
You should buy whatever swim suit is the most comfortable for you.  A big part of competitive swimming is doing and wearing whatever YOU like; it can be quite psychological.  A few key things to look for:\n\n1.  Range of motion--it shouldn't impede the motion of your legs or arms\n2.  Durability--polyester ones are awesome for this\n3.  Color--whatever you team colors are, or black.  Dark colors, such as purples and blues, tend to fade more slowly.\n\n*Nike has some swim suits that are cut in unique ways (the shoulders, and also different leg lengths) and are comfortable; I wore them in college and liked them a lot.
555488
Consider attending competitive swim team practices and listen to the coach's instruction for improving stroke mechanics. \n\nMany people have similar stroke deficiencies and need similar instruction to improve mechanics. \n\n\nBest wishes !
239697
Do you mean racing dives or competitive dives?\nFor racing you are trying to get the furthest dive with the best entry and most momentum. A shallow, fingers first entry with a lot of forward motion when you are going into the water. You should be as streamlined as possible.\n\nCompetitive dives are a little like gymnastics. Certain moves must be done and are scored on difficulty and completion of key elements such as the entry and the position of the body during the dive.\n \nI hope that was helpful. If not, write more specifically what you don't understand and re-post the question. If you want more details, talk to a coach in your area if possible.
134472
You already know the answer, practice. Don't worry about being last. The more you practice the better you will become. Set small goals for yourself and slowly build up to bigger ones. Work hard diet right and the improvements will come. Talk to your coach and see what you can do to improve your stroke.\nA specific drill that I have my team work on to improve endurance is to take less breaths during practice. Assuming you are swimming freestyle, take a breath every 3rd stroke, then work up to every 5th stroke, then 7th and so on. This is tiring but it helps to build endurance. When swimming concentrate on your body position and stroke. As you take less breaths your body will be in a more streamline position longer. Work on keeping it hydrodynamic. Then when you swim normally you should have enough oxygen, more endurance and a streamline body to improve your times.
206167
All I would say.  You are so posed to be exactly alike in your moves.  What every body part the other swimmer has you must have that too.  lol\nIt helps if you can float also.