What are your best "they didn't realize how good I was at swimming" stories?

TL;DR: I got teased for being skinny and lean in elementary, absolutely demolished the teasers in a swim test 25 at a YMCA camp, and they never teased me again after that.

Back in 5th grade, we stayed one night at a YMCA camp (Sherman Lake, Michigan). To go boating, we had to pass a swim test—25m without stopping. As a skinny kid, I got teased a lot, but I’d been swimming competitively since age 7. When it was my turn, I went bare-chested and got laughed at for being small.

But once in the water, I swam the fastest time, beating the teaser next to me while going 70% effort. The teasing stopped after that, and I learned to never underestimate what you don’t see.

I beat an older, muscular guy at districts, set a record, and he quit swimming that year.

Go you…I love this! I relate as a small, fast sprinter. I demolished a tall guy at 10 and scored in rugby!

My BF thought he could outswim me because I’m female. After one workout, he admitted defeat!

My brother in law decided to race me when I was 8 months pregnant. I crushed him

I was a synchronized swimmer who beat a club swimmer that bullied us. I shattered her record at champs, and everyone celebrated. She had a meltdown and didn’t say a word. Great day for nobodies!