Dear Santa: A Last-Minute Swimmer Plea

Santa’s sleigh doesn’t leave the North Pole until the clock strikes midnight, which means you still have time to get an email out to the big man and make one final plea for that special gift.

Here’s a swimming-specific Santa message you can use as a template if you’re stuck on what to send out on Christmas Eve. With limited time, however, you better send it out as quickly as Florent Manaudou’s 50 free.

Dear Santa,

I have been a (pretty) good swimmer this year. I only pulled on the lane line a few times (per week), chose easy-to-find hiding places for my teammate’s goggles (at least I thought so) and listened to my coach intently every practice (while humming Taylor Swift’s ‘You Need To Calm Down’ in my head).

My dedication to my favorite sport included plenty of naps, carb-loading, and SwimSwam-reading, plus I even made sure to say ‘thank you’ to my ever-dependable swimming taxi driver (aka, Mom).

All I ask is that you bring me a pair of strong shoulders (see Hali Flickinger for tips), abs of steel (a la Mitch Larkin) and the mental fortitude of Michael Phelps (his flexibility and big feet would be nice, too).

While you’re at it, Caeleb Dressel’s underwaters, Duncan Scott’s versatility, and Sarah Sjostrom’s sprinting prowess would be terrific stocking stuffers.

I humbly request that you also bring me good luck for the 2020 swim year and help my teammates and I carry a positive spirit during the darkest days of practice when times get really tough.

If you also bring me an Olympic Trials cut, I promise I’ll leave cookies and milk out for you in return.

Yours in Swimming!!