When the swim season began, my 11-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, and I cut a deal. She would go to practice three times a week and try really hard, and I wouldn't make her compete in the swim meets because on the day of a meet, she would be nervous all day. Her nerves rooted from the possibility that she would do something horribly wrong and let everyone down. 

Recently, they had a T-shirt relay, which works like this: one person from each relay team puts on a T-shirt and a pair of socks, swims 50 meters, and gets out of the pool. She takes off the clothes and puts them on the next person, who then swims 50 meters. This continues until everyone on the team has completed a lap. 

By the last leg, Elizabeth's team had built up a moderate lead. Then it was Elizabeth's turn to swim. She seemed to swim faster in the T-shirt and socks than when she wasn't wearing them. 

Approaching the halfway mark, she was still in the lead. Then one of Elizabeth's socks fell off and was floating in the pool. "She has to get that sock on before the end of the race," a swimming official told her team, "or you will be disqualified." 

Everybody on her team started screaming, "Elizabeth! Elizabeth! Stop! Get the sock!" But she couldn't hear them. As she started her last 25 meters, a girl in Lane 2 was gaining on Elizabeth. It was time for desperate measures. A girl on my daughter's team jumped in the pool, grabbed the sock, and swam after Elizabeth. She grabbed Elizabeth's foot. "You have to put the sock on," the girl screamed. Elizabeth continued swimming while her teammate put on the sock. 

By now, the girl in Lane 2 was about to pass Elizabeth. With the sock finally on, Elizabeth swam her heart out for the last 15 meters. It was close, but Elizabeth beat the other girl to the wall for the victory. 

On the ride home, she relived her moment of glory again and again. She told me that if the T-shirt relay was an Olympic event, her team would win the gold medal. I told her that in my professional opinion, she was absolutely right.
who is the story about? what is the daughters name? what fell off and floated? did she have to wear it? what would happen if not? according to who? what did they have to remove? how long did they have to swim in them? what is the race called? could she hear her mates? what were they shouting? how old is she? did she win? did she put the sock on? who did? how much did she have to swim finally? what happens to her on meet day? how many times per week was she to go? did she swim better with clothes on? who nearly beat her?
a parent and their daughter Elizabeth a sock yes she would be disqualified a swimming official T-shirt and a pair of socks 50 meters T-shirt relay no Stop! Get the sock! 11 yes no her teammate 15 meters she would be nervous Three yes a girl in Lane 2