Episodes
Second year high schooler, Haruka Nanase reminisces about his time spent with his friends in their grade school swimming club ...read more Second year high schooler, Haruka Nanase reminisces about his time spent with his friends in their grade school swimming club and of wanting nothing more than to be a freestyle swimmer. In the present, Makoto Tachibana goes to pick Haruka up for their second day of school at Iwatobi High, and while having lunch that day, they encounter their old friend, and recent transfer, Nagisa Hazuki. Nagisa not only wishes to swim with Haruka like they used to, but also suggests that dig up a time capsule containing a relay trophy they had won with their friend Rin Matsuoka at the dilapidated Iwatobi Swimming Club. While there, Haruka once again reminisces over a photo of the race, being the last time the group had swum together before Rin had moved to Australia to enroll in a swimming school. Afterwards, the group shockingly runs into a completely changed Rin in the hallways and immediately challenges Haruka to a race, until they discover that the old pool is empty. At school the next day, a scarlet-haired girl observes the group with a friend and remarks of them being old acquaintances before Makoto and Nagisa are reprimanded for trespassing at the swimming club. As Makoto and Nagisa visit Haruka that evening, they discover the scarlet-haired girl who turns out to be Rin's sister, Gō Matsuoka attempting to pay Haruka a visit and learn from her that Rin is now attending the Samezuka Academy upon his return from Australia. Afterwards, Makoto and Nagisa convince a reluctant Haruka to visit the academy by tempting him to a swim in the school's pool. Upon arriving, they wait after hours and break into the academy's swimming pool until they are discovered by Rin who aggressively orders them out. Haruka then steps out of the pool and challenges Rin to a freestyle race. show less
After the match, Haruka and co. are once again reprimanded for trespassing the Samezuka grounds. Makoto and Nagisa run into Gō ...read more After the match, Haruka and co. are once again reprimanded for trespassing the Samezuka grounds. Makoto and Nagisa run into Gō and all agree that Rin's attitude had dramatically changed in the past few years; simultaneously learning that Gō had been the one who sent him to the Iwatobi Swimming Club while Nagisa suggests that they form a school swimming club. After getting Haruka on board, Makoto and Nagisa propose the idea to their home room teacher, Miho Amakata who agrees after they give her a little prompt. Finally, the club is accepted by the faculty on the condition that they find one more member, and restore the school's swimming pool themselves. Nagisa begins the task of finding a fourth club member, which proves much more demanding than they had initially thought. While continuing the restoration, Gō still confused about Rin's behavior asks Makoto about their race and learns that Haruka threw the match, allowing Rin to win since he was merely content with being in the water, something which angered Rin. Believing that they can revert Rin to his old self, Gō volunteers to join the club as their manager. Later, Makoto pays one final visit to the Iwatobi Swimming Club and runs into their old mentor, Coach Goro Sasabe. Goro reveals that Haruka and Rin had a race when the latter made a rare return to Japan, of which Haruka easily won. Rin was exceptionally disappointed that his hard work was for naught, creating a rift between them, subsequently causing Haruka to quit competitive swimming because he had hurt Rin's pride. Upon learning this, Makoto calls Rin to inform them of their plans while Rin decides to join the Samezuka swim team for his own grudge against Haruka. Finally, Miho and the group officially establish the Iwatobi High Swimming Club and Haruka can't help but christen the pool with the first swim much to his friends' dismay. show less
Haruka catches a cold from his swim in the newly restored Iwatobi High swimming pool. The next day, while taking the train to ...read more Haruka catches a cold from his swim in the newly restored Iwatobi High swimming pool. The next day, while taking the train to school, Nagisa tries to recruit Rei Ryūgazaki to join the swim club to which he bluntly refuses. Gō proposes that the swim club join an indoor gym so they can practice swimming until summer, but due to its expense, they seek sponsorship from the faculty. Miho admits that they won't get sponsored until their club earns accomplishments in tournaments, but would still require a fourth swimmer. Nagisa informs Haruka and co. of Rei's perfect candidacy due to his feminine given name. This prompts Nagisa to wait for Rei after practice, much to his surprise and continues to pester him about joining. The next evening, while doing pole vault training, Rei's coach admits that his form wouldn't improve unless he stops calculating his movements beforehand, much to his frustration. Gō informs the club that she had successfully scheduled a joint swimming practice with the Samezuka team at their indoor pool, but they would still require a fourth swimmer. The following morning, Nagisa meets up with Rei on his run to school and explains his reasoning for wanting Rei to join prompting Rei agree on a trial basis. At the joint Samezuka-Iwatobi practice, Rin continues to give Haruka and co. the cold shoulder. Rei tries to avoid swimming in the time trials, but is forced to and much to everyone's surprise, it is revealed that he cannot swim. Although he ends up marveling at Haruka's beautiful swimming form, realizing that Haruka swims with passion rather than calculation. The next day at his pole vaulting practice, Rei doesn't use his calculations and falls. He approaches the spectating Haruka and co. and admits that he would like to achieve a form similar to Haruka's and officially joins the swim club while tasking Nagisa with teaching him how to swim. show less
The Swim Club officially starts training in the refurbished pool using an old training regiment of Rin's Gō had unearthed. ...read more The Swim Club officially starts training in the refurbished pool using an old training regiment of Rin's Gō had unearthed. Rei's inherent academic skills at learning all the swimming theory prove to be useless since his body refuses to move in the water. Elsewhere, Rin grudgingly realizes that his victory against Haruka was due to Haruka's lack of physical training and not his actual talent. Nagisa and Makoto start teaching Rei how to swim and learn that while he can float, his problem still eludes them. The following day, the guys try to come up with designs for a club uniform but Gō instead gives Rei's lessons higher priority and makes a revamped swimming regiment during which he must master swimming in one week before their first prefectural tournament. Nagisa and Makoto try and fail to teach Rei their signature techniques; the breaststroke and backstroke respectively causing Rei to blame his inability on their teaching methods. Makoto suggests they ask Goro for help but he bluntly refuses. During the weekend, Rei attributes his inability to not having proper gear, hence prompting a visit by the team to a sports store to buy swimming essentials. At the store, Haruka and Rin run into each other and have a short discussion about their differing forms with Rin wanting a race with them both in peak condition, or else he may no be able to move forward from his loss and both decide to settle the score at the upcoming tournament. Afterwards, Haruka takes a turn trying to teach Rei freestyle swimming and fails, greatly disappointing Rei. As the day draws to a close, Haruka laments to Rei that he too isn't compatible with other techniques in that he doesn't swim freestyle by choice; merely because it is all he can swim. The next day, having come to this realization, Rei tries the last technique and finds it compatible with himself: the butterfly stroke. show less
Believing that the added pressure will help the Swim Club in their training, Gō continues to make her countdown calendar for ...read more Believing that the added pressure will help the Swim Club in their training, Gō continues to make her countdown calendar for the upcoming prefectural tournament. Meanwhile, as the guys decide on which events they will each participate in at the tournament, Gō discovers a decades old training regiment of the past Iwatobi Swim Club and excitedly proposes that they use it and venture to an island for a summer training camp. Afterwards, the club tries and fails to get Miho to sponsor the trip. Makoto proposes using camping equipment to stay outdoors while resorting to bribing Goro to use his squid fishing boat to take them to the island and back. Later, Haruka expresses concern for Makoto since he had a rather scarring experience with the ocean in the past, to which Makoto reassures that he is fine. On the day of the trip, Sasabe takes the Swim Club to the island where they coincidentally discover the Samezuka Swim Team along with Rin, training at a special swimming facility on the island. After the guys get settled on the beach they begin their stamina training regiment which involves making three long-distance swimming circuits between the deserted islands of Sukishima, Oshima and Mizushima. At the end of the first day, the club only manages swimming half of their goal leaving Rei to feel a bit disappointed for lagging behind. As they prepare for dinner, Gō heads to a nearby convenience store and briefly runs into Rin who shows some concern for Makoto after Gō explains their training, before returning to his usual stoic self. That night, unable to sleep due to his performance, Rei heads into the ocean to continue training when a sudden storm takes him by surprise. Makoto awakens at that moment and goes looking for Rei; frantically diving to his aid upon hearing Rei's cries for help. show less
Haruka and Nagisa awaken to Makoto's shouts for Rei and immediately dive to their aid after noticing them in the rough sea. ...read more Haruka and Nagisa awaken to Makoto's shouts for Rei and immediately dive to their aid after noticing them in the rough sea. Upon approaching Rei, Makoto suddenly becomes fear stricken but is rescued by Haruka. However as Nagisa goes after Rei the group is suddenly struck by a large wave. A while later, Haruka drags Makoto to the nearby Sukishima shore and upon awakening, the latter's old fear of the ocean resurfaces. Elsewhere, Nagisa and Rei make it to shore with the latter blaming himself for putting the group in danger. Soon enough, the guys reunite and despite each blaming themselves for their own shortcomings, are genuinely relieved that they are all unharmed. With the storm still raging on, the guys decide to head over to the nearby abandoned Sukishima Rest House for shelter and after scavenging some leftover food from the kitchen, they decide to pass the time by telling each other embarrassing stories. Eventually Rei asks Makoto about the reason for his hesitation in the water and much to Haruka's objection, Makoto reveals his thalassophobia. Makoto explains that when he was younger, he had befriended an old fisherman in a nearby fishing harbor. However the man's boat soon got caught up in a typhoon and sank three kilometers from the harbor, killing everyone on board. Makoto explains that both himself and Haruka used to swim three kilometers offshore everyday, but ever since the fisherman's death, he felt as if an unknown force dwelt in the ocean. Makoto concludes that he planned their trip despite his fear since believing that their shared passion for swimming can take them anywhere. As the storm finally subsides, the guys step out and marvel at the stars, which symbolically reflect off of a large puddle, echoing Makoto's words. The next morning, the guys swim back to the mainland and collapse from exhaustion on the shore, much to Gō and Miho's confusion. show less
As the Prefectural Tournament draws closer, the Iwatobi High Swim Club starts improving their swim times. Elsewhere, Rin awakens ...read more As the Prefectural Tournament draws closer, the Iwatobi High Swim Club starts improving their swim times. Elsewhere, Rin awakens in a frenzied state after having a nightmare involving Haruka and his younger father. Afterwards at training, Aiichiro Nitori grows upset that Rin would limit himself to the freestyle event when he possesses far greater potential. While Aiichiro helps Rin train that night, the former laments his inability to participate in the 100m event, but Rin assures him that his endurance is better suited for the 400m race. Afterwards, Rin reveals to him the story of his late father. Rin explains that his father was the best athlete in the past Iwatobi Swim Club and aspired to become an Olympic swimmer. However his dream was never realized after he settled down to married life as a fisherman and was hence killed when a typhoon struck his boat late one summer. Following his father's death, Rin adopted his dream, but explains that Haruka is the only thing standing in his way of moving forward as an athlete, since he lost to Haruka despite all his training in addition to their differing reasons for swimming. Finally on the day of the tournament, Gō reveals that both Haruka and Rin are competing in the fourth freestyle heat and are in neighboring lanes due to having similar qualifying times as explained by Makoto. As Haruka leaves to get ready he encounters Rin at the lockers where their rivalry continues. Finally as the race begins, Rin immediately starts pulling ahead of Haruka in the first leg. Haruka starts catching up as they make the turn into the second leg and they both seem to be neck and neck towards the finish. However much to his friends' shock, Haruka places second with Rin being the victor and advances to the next round. As Rin exits the pool, he declares that his win means that he will never swim with Haruka again, leaving the latter in utter shock. show less
As Haruka is left stunned by Rin's declaration, the other members compete in their respective events. Despite the cheers of ...read more As Haruka is left stunned by Rin's declaration, the other members compete in their respective events. Despite the cheers of their supporters, which Haruka comes to see, none of them make it through to the next round. As the day comes to an end, Gou reveals she had secretly entered everyone into the relay race event taking place the next day, given them one more chance to qualify for the regionals. After the others spend the night trying to convince him to join, Haruka soon comes to understand everyone's feelings and agrees to participate. The next day, news of Iwatobi's participation in the relay reaches Rin, who bears witness to the team in action. show less
Thanks to everyone's efforts, Iwatobi manage to win the relay race, earning a place in the regionals. Afterwards, Haruka ...read more Thanks to everyone's efforts, Iwatobi manage to win the relay race, earning a place in the regionals. Afterwards, Haruka tells the others of how his expectations were blown by Rin's proclamation, and how he came to realise the joy of relay racing again. Later, the group attend a summer festival, which Rin also ends up attending. Wanting to keep Haruka and Rin from meeting, Nagisa has Rei trail Rin, who eventually wanders off from the festival and arrives at his old elementary school, holding back his emotions. show less
Rin recalls how he transferred into elementary school and made friends with Haruka and the others, stating his dream of becoming ...read more Rin recalls how he transferred into elementary school and made friends with Haruka and the others, stating his dream of becoming an Olympic champion like his late father and convincing them to enter the relay together before he went off to Australia. Meanwhile, Rei, not wanting to be left out of the loop, asks Haruka and the others about how their relationship with Rin fell apart. Haruka reveals that whilst Rin was visiting Japan during middle school, he challenged Haruka to a swimming race and lost. Out of frustration of his loss, Rin announced he would quit swimming. Upon hearing this, Rei decides to meet up with Rin face to face. show less
Rei asks Rin about why he is participating in the relay, what changed him after he left for Australia and what he actually wants ...read more Rei asks Rin about why he is participating in the relay, what changed him after he left for Australia and what he actually wants from Haruka, stating his desire to be a part of their team. Later, Haruka and the others come over to Rei's place, where they assure Rei he is an irreplaceable team member. After arriving at the location for the regional tournament and checking into their hotel, the group go to see the pool they'll be swimming in. Later that night, as everyone is too excited to sleep, Rin asks Rei to meet up with him, explaining that the reason he quit swimming was because he struggled to swim the way he used to and felt he couldn't reach Olympic level. It was his match with Haruka that reignited his desire to swim, and Iwatobi's prefectural performance that made him want to perform relay again. Before taking his leave, Rin tells Rei that he needs to make sure he doesn't embarrass Iwatobi's team when they compete against each other. Upon returning to his hotel, however, Rin is shocked to learn that he has been taken off Samezuka's relay team because he wasn't focusing on his own team. show less
Rin becomes so distracted by being taken off the relay team that he ends up placing terribly in his 100m event. After Rin runs ...read more Rin becomes so distracted by being taken off the relay team that he ends up placing terribly in his 100m event. After Rin runs off in an outburst, saying he will quit swimming, Haruka and the others overhear Rin say he was taken out of the relay, which comes as a shock to Haruka. It is at this point that Rei tells everyone about what Rin told him the previous night, stating his belief that what Rin wanted wasn't to win, but to swim with everyone again. With the relay preliminaries approaching fast, the gang splits up in search of Rin, who is eventually found by Haruka. Initially struggling to hear Haruka out and getting into a fight with him, Rin spots a phrase Haruka had written in the sand in front of a tree, "For the team", reminding him of his elementary school days. He begins to cry and claims that he wanted to swim in a relay with him. Making it just in time for the preliminaries, Rei lets Rin take his place in the relay, allowing him to finally swim with his friends. Although the Iwatobi team is inevitably disqualified for their unapproved roster change despite placing first, they feel proud in doing what they thought was the right thing, whilst Rin is encouraged by Samezuka to swim the way he did for their own team. Afterwards, Iwatobi and Samezuka begin joint training, where Rin and Haruka state their own dreams. show less