The next evening the pool was quieter than usual.

Most of the team had already left for a team meeting. I stayed behind, telling Coach Nolan I wanted extra stroke work. He didn’t argue. He just nodded and told me to warm up while he finished some paperwork in his small office off the deck.

I swam slow laps, letting the water slide over my skin. The chlorine smell filled my nose. My muscles burned in that good way. Every time I turned at the wall I saw the light from his office door.

He came out after twenty minutes.

“Out of the water,” he said. “We’re doing video review...