There is a lot going through athletes’ heads when the pressure is on. They may repeat words of self-encouragement, envision images of victory, or even wish curses upon their opponents. Most, however, are not imagining dialogue for a new hit musical.

That is, of course, except for Harvard swimmer James Lawler.

Though he kept his eye on Athens while training for the 2004 Olympics last year, Lawler emerged from the pool not only with impressive times, but with snappy new exchanges between characters like Mooney O’Tooley and Sweetie Connors.

O’Tooley and Connors are two protagonists in “Genie,” the musical Lawler wrote with Benjamin Scheuer ’04 last summer. This December, the production played to full houses in the Cabot Junior Common Room over a five-show run.

With a theatrical triumph under his belt, why not stick to the stage?

Well, it turns out that Lawler is pretty good at swimming, too.

The all-time Harvard record holder for both the 100- and 200-yard butterflies, Lawler placed eighth in the 100-meter fly at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials.

“The amazing thing about James Lawler is that whatever he wants to do he can do,” says Jackie Pangilinan, a freshman swimmer on the women’s team. “He just makes it happen.”

ROLE-ING WITH THE PUNCHES

“Genie” tells the story of O’Tooley, a freshman nerd in love with the affluent but bipolar Sweetie Connors. Distraught at his inability to woo her, he and his roommate Brock the Jock head to a bar, where in an inebriated stupor they meet Gia, a kind and soulful genie bent on helping O’Tooley win the girl of his dreams.

When La’Tarsha Long—cast as Genie Gia—realized just before the play’s opening that she would be unable to attend all the performances of “Genie” because of a conflict with another show, Lawler and Scheuer experienced a momentary casting crisis.

At Scheuer’s suggestion, Lawler briefly considered stepping in to fill the role.

But while he can swim and write with ease, singing is a little more problematic.

Although they quickly found a replacement Gia, Lawler’s dedication to the show was made evident by his willingness to play a singing black female genie—something he very clearly is not.

MIA: MUSICAL IN ACTION