Let the Heifer Games Begin: Unlikely Swimming Champions

Some animals are natural athletes. The cheetah can go from 0-60 miles per hour in three seconds. The sailfish—its aquatic counterpart—has been clocked at 68 miles per hour. That means that this fish could win a 100-meter race in five seconds flat.   

But, what about pigs? They may be less sporty than the cheetah, but I suspect the pig’s athletic ability would exceed many people’s expectations—especially in the pool.

There’s a district of the Bahamas called Exuma where pigs (a whole colony!) wallow in sand, not mud, and have been swimming for hundreds of years.  

Speaking of pigs, what about the guinea pig? The guinea pig—not actually a pig, but a rodent—has a much larger cousin, the capybara, who happens to be a capable and willing swimmer. In fact, the capybara can remain under water for up to five minutes.

With the capybara’s proclivity for paddling, I can only conclude that guinea pigs are naturally nautically inclined. And, this video of a couple of pet guinea pigs making laps in a backyard swimming pool supports my suspicion.

Given the obvious differences in body mass and stride, I wouldn’t pit pig against guinea pig in the same pool. If, however, each breed was placed in a well-matched heat, game on! I’d place my bet on the swiftest swimmer in each group, sit back and watch Piggy Phelps emerge victorious.

Stay tuned to the World Ark blog for more animal antics, or take our Heifer Games quiz to see which Heifer animals put up the fiercest athletic competition–50 cents will be donated to Heifer for every quiz taken!