Here are my kids with their ribbons from swim championships -and the oldest two both won the "high points" (MVP) trophies for their age groups. The little guy got his first "place" ribbon (top 16) from a championship meet. And it wasn't just because there were few enough relay teams that all participants placed -they actally beat one team!
(he just turned 6 and the youngest age category is 8 and under, so it'll be a few years before he starts seriously winning. But he will, if determination is anything to go by. He can swim all 4 strokes and has an awesome start off the blocks!)