First

First you roll. Then you crawl. Then it's walking. After that a run.

First it's floating, then sculling, followed by freestyle.

How well you do at the first usually indicates whether you'll be any good at the rest of it.

So why is first so important? Is it just a confidence building exercise? Does it actually help your body physically prepare for what comes next? Or does it play some huge role in the wiring of your brain and the thought processes you require?

And is first just important because we humans are so competitive? Is it a hangover from when everything was decided in battle, and coming second meant being dead?

If anyone knows a famous second I'd love to hear it.

First I need a coffee though.

Not first