After months and sometimes even years of training for what will hopefully be the fastest swimming of your life, race day has finally arrived. Race day is a nerve-wracking time for swimmers, as they are forced to perform and see the results of their grueling work, whether good or bad. However, sometimes the unexpected happens – the very things that every swimmer fears will go wrong on race day actually go wrong.

1. Missing your race

At every swim meet, you will hear the officials announce: “Lane four! Last call for lane four!” Normally hearing this is not a big deal, except for when you are supposed to be in lane four. But instead, you are sitting with your teammates. On the other side of the pool.