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While keeping a positive attitude we still need to recognize and prepare for all possibilities in triathlon. And there is one other thing to highlight and that is the rule that the longer you're out there in a race the more can go wrong. Often it's how you handle these obstacles that decides how well your day goes.
Here are some possible issues you may face in the swim.
Pre-Race Anxiety/Panic Attack: Overwhelm before even getting in the water.
Practice and visualize the swim. Your goal is to normalize open water swimming. Also, prepare your mantras and self-talk.
Wetsuit Issues:
Water is too warm to wear one!
Some events will not allow wetsuits if the water temperature is warm (ie 25C). Check the race information. If this is a possibility for you then do some practice swimming without the wetsuit to prepare. Chances are the race director will allow you to swim in the wetsuit but you simply won't quality for any awards other than your finisher medal. Check with the organization.
Swimming in a wetsuit above 25C can be risky in terms of overheating. Be cautious.
Difficulty putting it on/taking it off.
Practice. Use Body Glide and/or a plastic bag on hands/feet. Give yourself lots of time pre-race.
Chafing (neck, armpits).
Body Glide
Too tight, restricting breathing.
Figure this out at the time of purchasing or the first swim in spring. Suit fit is critical.
Tear in the wetsuit.
Avoid creating holes with your nails by wearing gloves or grabbing with finger tips only. Check your suit for holes every swim.
Crowding/Contact: Being kicked, punched, or swum over by other athletes.
Expect it, accept it, get back in the groove. To recover find some open water and float on your back. At turn buoys take a wide line as that is often where contact occurs.
Poor Sighting: Swimming off course, adding significant distance.
Don't cross over your wide line with your arm - stay wide. This cross over is often the reason swimmers swim offline. No your tendency and compensate for it. Sight more frequently to ensure you're on line for the next buoy.
Navigation Issues: Getting disoriented, especially in open water with waves or glare.
Waves: Take any opportunity you can get to practice in waves. Time your sighting so you are at the crest as opposed to in the trough.
Glare: Mirrored goggles can help mitigate this, as can horizon sighting (looking for something on the horizon that can landmark you to the next buoy.)
Hypothermia/Hyperthermia: Water temperature being too cold or too warm.
Cold: Safety first - don't swim if at risk. Acclimatize to the cold water slowly with frequent short swims. Where a wetsuit if water temperature is below 18C. Have warm clothing ready for the moment you finish swim.
Warm: Practice swimming without the wetsuit. If water is >25C wetsuits won't be permitted in most races.
Panic in Water: Feeling overwhelmed by the open water, deep water, or crowd.
Normalize open water swimming by doing it often. Practice turning to float and recover on your back; just float and breathe.
Cramps: Calf, hamstring, or foot cramps.
Make sure you're hydrated pre-swim. Warm up and do a few mobility exercises (ie leg swings, calf raises). Practice floating on your back to stretch hamstring, grab toes to stretch calf or foot.
Breathing Difficulties: Hyperventilating, difficulty getting enough air.
Float on back, look to the sky, relax and take deep breaths. Calm yourself with matras and self-talk.
When swimming focus on long slow strokes. Slowing it all down means more time to breath and likely greater efficiency.
Ingesting Water: Swallowing too much water, leading to nausea or choking.
Float on back till recovered. Seek assistance from water craft if in distress.
Goggle Issues: Fogging, leaking, getting knocked off.
Fogging: Use anti-fog treatment or sticker before swim. Dip lens in water mid-race if needed.
Leak: Find goggles that fit better. Tighten strap of existing goggles.
Knock: Practice floating on your back and putting goggles off and on.
Loss of Swim Cap: Can be disorienting and cause issues with visibility.
Not a big issue in a race unless it's in cold water. See assistance if in distress.
Fatigue: Starting the bike leg already tired.
Only swim as fast as you can swim with good technique and efficiency. Think of the swim as a warm up for the bike.
Currents/Waves: Making swimming significantly harder and more tiring.
Currents: In training make sure you aren't gliding (ie extended arm pausing out front). Make sure you always have pressure on the water.
Waves: Take any opportunity you can get to practice in waves. Time your sighting and breath so you are at the crest as opposed to in the trough. Compensate for the push of the waves in terms of direction.
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