Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[erik19283]

Hello,

When you watch a swimming competition, would you say that people are doing a "race"? Does "race" apply to this kind of situation?

Thank you.

[CP]

The swimmers go to a swim meet or swim competition, and they race each other in various races -- the 100-meter butterfly, the 200-meter freestyle, etc. Racing is itself competition as well; the swimmers compete against each other in the race.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[margaretelise]

If you're speaking outside the context of a swim meet (I've been a swimmer forever and have never called it a 'competition' but it's not incorrect to do so) you might say:

The swimmer is racing.

She is racing in the 100 meter butterfly.
She is racing the 100 meter butterfly.
She is swimming the 100 meter butterfly.
She races very well. [different meaning than 'she swims very well.' here, 'swim' would refer to her ability to execute the mechanics of swimming, 'race' refers to her speed and strategy]

Note that 'race' is used as a verb in these examples.

You can also say:

She is doing the 100 meter butterfly.

Because the 100 meter butterfly can't refer to anything other than swimming, you don't necessarily have to specify 'swimming' as what is being done...it's like saying 'she's making soup' instead of 'she's cooking soup'...of course she's cooking it! You can say this whether you are already in the context of swimming or not.

Everywhere in the world except for the US, competetive swimming is done in a 25 or 50 meter pool so unless you're talking to an American, it will probably be assumed that the length is measured in meters. Thus, you could just say 'She is swimming the 100 butterfly.' Americans generally swim in pools measured in meters in the summer and in yards the rest of the year (We'd say the meet this weekend is 'in yards' or 'it's a short-course meters pool'). Short-course is a pool yards or meters long and Long-course is a 50-meter long pool (we don't race in 50-yard pools). Don't ask me why Americans have to be different in everything!

As for the word 'race' used as a noun:

What race is she in next?
What race is she swimming next?
What is your best race?
Her next race is in about 2 hours.
She swims her next race in about 2 hours.
That was a really good race.

Notice I didn't say 'swimming race' or 'doing a race.'

If you really want to sound like a swimmer:

She's doing the 100 fly. [or free, back, breast, IM]
She's doing the 2 fly. [2 is short for 200]
She's doing the 4 IM. [4 is short for 400]
She's doing the sixteen-fifty. [1650 yards, or you can say mile]
She has the 2 fly next. [meaning that the 200 butterfly is her next race]
I've got the 5 free up next. [meaning that the 500 free is my next race]

That's probably way more than you wanted to know. I'm procrastinating.[color=blue][/color]

[CP]

I agree with Margaret Elise 100%, and well said, too.

I would only add that IM is an abbreviation for individual medley, the race involving four legs, each one a different stroke. There is also a medley relay race, MR, where each leg is a different stroke, swum by a different swimmer.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[erik19283]

margaretelise,

That was way more than I expected, not that I wanted to know; more explanation is better than less!

Thank you so much!

Thanks to you also, CP, for your precious added information.