See.  This is why Free! is so wonderful.  Sure there’s the cute boys and the subtext, but it’s also a show that did research and paid attention.  Not only did it end up having an engaging story, but when it came to the swimming parts, it was actually realistic.  It didn’t rely on its eye candy and subtext. It’s swimming, so you’re going to get a swimming show.  Swimming isn’t in the background and there’s no moment where actual swimmers in the fandom were like, “lol omg that is not how swimming works at all you didn’t do your homework at all.”    

In fact, I’ve seen a lot of posts on tumblr like, “OMG THIS IS JUST HOW COMPETITIONS WORK,” and, “Wow when they make the exchange it’s dead on,” or, “when they turn in the water it’s perfect.”  Even little comments, like Rin saying, “they’re out of shape,” and the fandom being like, “lol whatever Rin these boys are hot,” then someone pointing out, “… actually he’s right, look at how swimmers look, they are actually out of shape compared to him.”  You can even see it with the boys, they run around for a bit and sometimes they’re out of breath.  Not Rei though, because come on he ran track, and not Rin because he jogs like all the time.  

Nagisa running with Rei?  He was out of breath.  Even them running up the stairs you could see Makoto out of breath, or Haru running around looking for Rin.  Just because they’re pretty doesn’t mean they’re as fit as some other characters.  Attractive people with some muscle (or who are just skinny) can be out of shape if it’s not done constantly.  Rei is amazing at running, but when he was learning to swim he looked so, so tired.  But get him sprinting on the beach and he’s a pro.    

But most of all I appreciate that the power of friendship didn’t mean victory.  Sure they trained a hell of a lot, but they ALL lost their meets. Come on, they trained for what, 30 days or something?  Not to mention that they had to take time out to teach Rei how to swim.  Of course there’s people better, particularly the captain of Rin’s team (he’s the captain of a power school of course he’s good).  And yeah they won the relay together, but individually they lost (and the relay relies on teamwork, which they nailed).