The Swimmer (השחיין)

THE SWIMMER

Hello there.

Paloma.

You must be Erez.

-Hi. -Hi.

Come.

It's practical.

All the swimmers are already here.

Choose a bed, the room is all yours.

There are clean sheets and towels in the closet.

Come to me if there's anything you need.

Nice.

Come on, they're waiting for you.

Dima, the last one is here.

Stretch.

It's for the flip turn in the water.

You gotta go boom, off the wall.

Both feet.

First do this,

stretching and everything. Work on it.

Ready?

-Good luck. -Thanks.

Let's take a look at you.

So, any chance of punching the Olympic ticket?

That's what I'm here for.

I wish everyone here thought like that.

You're still here? Get moving, lane 4.

Nevo, FYI, we've started practice.

Move it.

Gentlemen, 45 seconds, don't break before that.

Ready and go!

Yoav, who gave you permission to stop?

Very good, Erez.

Man, that bastard.

Hey.

Dan.

Hi, I'm Erez.

You really showed off today.

-We've met, at the finals... -Yeah, the age group record holder,

50, 100, 200 meters.

Dan is a former age group record holder.

We swam together as kids in Jerusalem, that's the last time he won.

Remind me who whooped your ass, huh?

I'm Nevo.

Hi, I'm Erez.

Don't get to know him, it's a waste of energy, he's fucked up.

Asshole!

Hi, I'm Nadav.

-Where are you from? -Upper Galilee.

Have you had your Bat Mitzvah yet?

Well, ladies and gentlemen,

this is your chance to get a peek, you faggots.

-The water's freezing! -Stupid dogs don't bite.

How come I never saw you at any competitions?

-I came here from England. -Really?

Then how do you know Hebrew?

From home, my family's there.

My dad is Israel's consul general.

In London?

It's not as great as it sounds.

Gimme the shampoo.

Are you skimping on the soap?

Come on, give it to me.

You decided to grace us with your presence?

Sorry I'm late.

Okay, gentlemen,

all eyes on me.

The best of the best,

the cherry on the icing, is here.

Each one of you, only five swimmers from across the country, need to know,

this is a life-changing trajectory.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

to be a champion.

Our training camp starts now and ends in three months.

There are athletes here from many different fields,

but that shouldn't concern you.

You're here only to swim.

Anyone looking for anything other than that won't be here.

This is the money time.

You'll each be trying to qualify for the Olympics,

but we're in Israel and there's no money.

Only one of you will be punching the Olympic ticket.

In a moment Yael will go over the rules here.

Never be late.

If you're late, you don't go in the water.

No alcohol.

When it's lights out, you're each in your own room.

How will you fall asleep without sucking me off?

Don't even joke about being like that, you hear?

Okey dokey?

You baboons...

-What did he say? -Learn Russian.

-Okay, okay. -It's late, guys.

Everyone in the water! Let's go!

-Everyone. -Let's go!

"Madonna's rules to conquer the world: Don't stop practicing

Be creative Find a role model for inspiration

Ask for help when you need it Never stop dancing"

Don't forget to breath. Love, Liat

The holy grail of success.

She's your idol? Dude, that's fucking old.

Some people believe in God

and I believe in Madonna.

This is how they eat at Buckingham Palace.

This is how we eat at the kibbutz dining hall.

Shit.

Where did you live?

Kensington.

Near the Peter Pan statue.

Ever heard of it?

I've heard of Peter Pan.

Are your parents still there?

-My dad is supposed to come for a visit. -When?

Next week, to take me to a hotel for my birthday.

The only place I feel at home is the pool.

I love the water.

That moment at 6 am when your body touches the freezing water...

makes me wanna puke.

I die a little with every whistle start.

And I hate the water.

You hate the water?

Can I tell Dima?

I hate water, but I love winning.

15 more seconds.

Don't look down, so you don't fall, sweetie.

A little more, last push.

Five, four, three,

two, one...

This is the cherry on the icing, you're all talented.

But only the strongest one will make it with us to the Olympics, understand?

To the Olympus.

I'm talking about two points.

Head, body, okay.

-Don't do this stuff... -What's with you guys?

This is just a warm-up!

And ten...

Five, get ready.

I want it perfect, Yoav. Strong, not like a grandpa.

Come on, Nadav.

Don't take him as an example, you're young, you still have a chance.

-A chance for what? -Being a mensch.

Focus, concentrate.

Concentration is like porcelain, one little crack and it's ruined, understand?

Come on.

-Come on! -Hey, that's not fair!

What are you worth, Nevo?

Huh? Tell me.

-Probably not that much. -Dan!

Focus, Nevo. Show me what you can do.

-Fuck. -A little more.

One down.

One more.

Fuck!

What's wrong, Nevo? Is the Israeli sun giving you a hard time?

Come on, keep going.

The sweat made me slip. Pussy.

Shut up.

Nevo, no excuses here.

Only a bad craftsmen blames his own tools.

-Go, Yoav! -Very good, Yoav.

At least there's one person here who understands what I'm talking about.

Very good.

Who do you think you are, a Zulu tribe?

Way to go, Yoav, I didn't think you'd last 30 seconds.

Fuck off...

Chill, Erez, Dima doesn't like drama.

Yeah, now I understand that.

You don't understand anything. Dima doesn't play games.

You guys are his chance to make it back to the top, understand?

Way to go, Yoav.

This is what a real champion smells like.

You're gross!

What matters is winning in the water, not while working out.

Who saw my goggles?

Tomorrow is a new day.

Give 'em back, you bastard.

Look at you, you faggot.

How long do we have now?

An hour, then back to fuckin' Dima.

Ten seconds.

-Where were you? -I overslept.

-Hey, you guys exchanging recipes? -Let's move it.

Is he trying to hit on him?

Chattering like two old ladies.

That's it, it's over. He just stands there, looking around, confused.

I shout out to him, just fuckin' focus!

For God's sake, Dan, you're such a baby.

-How are you? -Who do you think has to clean that?

-How's training? -It's going well.

-How are you? -Good.

My belly's getting bigger.

You gotta stop eating white bread. -I don't feel full.

Nevo, come here.

Come here.

His parents are overseas.

This is my dad.

-Hi, I'm Nevo. -Hey.

Oh, there's Dima.

They used to swim together.

You're lucky your dad's here.