“The Ready Room Is a Very, Very Intense Place': Olympic Swimmer

Before Olympic swimmers step up to the starting blocks and begin their mad dash through the water, they wait in what’s known as the ready room, a place that is serene for some, but not all. Some athletes pass the time by chatting or goofing around, while others stretch and keep to themselves. “The ready room is a very, very intense place,” said Conor Dwyer, an Olympic swimmer. In the room, officials check that swimmers’ suits, caps and goggles meet regulations. And the athletes try not to psych themselves out.