The second annual All Students Swim Meet took place at American University yesterday and had a big surprise for all competitors as well as members of the crowd. The meet is open to any student wanting to swim in a competitive race who is not on the swim team.
The star of the meet was Bui G. Fout, winning the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle. The secret to Fout's success came from one big asset - his size 36 feet.
Fout's feet are slightly webbed at the toes, giving him the appearance and advantage of natural flippers. The size of his feet provides him with a strong kick, which then propels him through the water at record speed.
There was slight controversy at the swim meet and a question of whether the large feet were a disadvantage to other swimmers and therefore unfair. After much debate, it was decided that since Fout's feet were natural and not physically altered in any way, he should be able to compete.
"I was always told that I should join a swim team," said Fout. "My parents and I decided early however that it wouldn't be right to draw so much attention to myself."
The decision to finally compete in his first meet was made after Fout became close with members of the Eagle swim team.
"We would always try to get him to swim in the pool or even try out for the team," said junior Sally Swym. "I guess he just finally got tired of us hassling him every day."
Fout was cheered on by all people on the pool deck and gathered a great crowd in the lobby of Bender where the viewing of the meet took place.
Fout's shoe size is slightly smaller than the shoe size recorded in the Guinness Book of world records, which is a 37AA. He gets his sneakers and sandals custom made through a small shoe factory in his hometown of Harrisburg, Pa. His parents both have particularly small size shoes, leaving the question of big feet up to a genetic mutation.
When asked whether this was his first and last meet of his career, Fout said, "Yeah, I don't see myself ever competing on a team. I just want to keeps this as a light, bizarre thing."
Other swimmers in the meet that found success in their races were junior Dan Deivor and freshmen Sean Spoeed and Frank Freeoustyl.
