Beautiful wealthy American businesswoman meets eccentric Irishman on an Italian train, who sets out to woo her. What ensues is something neither imagined happening.

Grinding, gruelling and unceasing, Dennis Barker's training sessions push his young swimmers to the limits of their endurance. Outstanding among them is 14-year-old Rachel Southern. Destined for stardom perhaps, but also destined to realise that winning doesn't always mean coming first.