A day for a competitive swimmer is very slow and complicated. First, a competitive swimmer has to wait for his or her event to be called. Then, he or she goes to the bullpen, or area in which a swimmer get their card for that event. Next, as in the picture below, the competitive swimmer will wait their turn to swim which ever event they have been assigned.

Then, when the swimmer's event is called up to go behind the blocks. After waiting for the heat before them they are able to step up to the block (picture below). Finally the announcer will say, "Take your mark....... GO!"

                In the picture below the swimmers are swimming a stroke called breaststroke.