I didn't think it was possible, certainly not likely but I did it. I don't mean slipping on the deck and breaking an arm. I mean "while swimming".
Two nights ago, going into my backstroke turn in the middle of my 200IM, I realized too late that the backstroke flags had been taken down. I arched my neck to look upside down toward the wall to guage the distance, BAM, I slammed face first into the wall. I came up with a pretty small gash on my nose and cut on my forehead. It wasn't so much painful as startling and certainly embarrassing. Once the bleeding stopped, I thought I should go see about getting it stitched at our local, friendly ER. While in the waiting room, I realized my face hurt...ALOT, so they did an x-ray and sure enough a broken nose.
I've never broken a bone in my life (knock on wood). I quit running 18 months ago b/c I had become so injury prone in my late 30's/early 40's. It's not so bad though, as broken bones go. I'll be back in the pool in a few days once my stitches are gone. The bone will take 4-6 weeks to heal but that shouldn't keep me out of the pool.
Just curious if I'm unique in this regard.
Yes - left little finger on the head of an oncoming swimmer in the same lane. Happened just after a turn at 800Y in a 900Y swim. Finished the swim (so Coach wouldn't get mad). Coach's parting words as I left to get it x-rayed, "If it is broken, don't let them put a cast on it!" It was broken (green-stick fracture), had a splint put on it, and never missed a workout.
A teammate broke his hand at Nationals one year, on a relay finish. Was so ticked off that he punched a wall later that night and broke the other hand.
Yes - left little finger on the head of an oncoming swimmer in the same lane. Happened just after a turn at 800Y in a 900Y swim. Finished the swim (so Coach wouldn't get mad). Coach's parting words as I left to get it x-rayed, "If it is broken, don't let them put a cast on it!" It was broken (green-stick fracture), had a splint put on it, and never missed a workout.
A teammate broke his hand at Nationals one year, on a relay finish. Was so ticked off that he punched a wall later that night and broke the other hand.