Swimming for My Life by Kim Fairley

Author:Kim Fairley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: She Writes Press

IN THE MEANTIME, PRACTICES WERE getting progressively crazier and more disturbing. In one practice Mr. Bergen yelled, “Hold it up.”

Grimmer lifted his crotch out of the water to a chorus of girls shouting, “Oh, Grimmer, you’re so gross.” Mr. Bergen snickered along with the guys.

A prank we thought was funny at the time was to slap someone on the thigh with three middle fingers, creating a “W” mark that was known as the “Wiedemann Sign” after the popular Cincinnati brewery. I’d seen Mr. Bergen do this to others and hadn’t thought much of it. Then one day I happened to pass by him on my way from the locker room to the weights, and with his three middle fingers, he wacked me so hard on the leg that I let out a yelp from the sudden shock.

Looking down at my thigh, I saw that his swat had left a red, three-finger welt.

“That’s a “W” for winner,” he said, smirking.

I continued along the edge of the pool to the weights, without reacting. We were getting used to this kind of thing, and didn’t question it. The longer the red mark remained, though, the more I bristled. What did he think he was doing? I wanted attention, but not this kind.

Still, his overall approach seemed measured. Rational. Buttressed by scientific research. Sure, he had been inappropriate at times—kicking kids off the team, hurling those kickboards—but it was obvious he knew what he was doing. He had a plan, and he had done the research to back up the plan. At least, that’s what I thought.

Some of the parents complained, “How are they going to compete if they’re this lethargic so close to the Olympic Trials?”

Mr. Bergen came right back at them with, “If you want your child to stay on the team, you let me coach.”

Ironically, his attitude made me feel safe. There is a fine line between manipulation and cooperation. Whether parents pushed him around or not, he gave the impression that they couldn’t, which made me even more willing to trust his judgment and do what he demanded.

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