Despite their clumsy appearance, lack of climbing limbs, and inability to fly, penguins can leap out of the water onto the shore like arrows shot from a bow. What is the secret behind this impressive maneuver?
Underwater cameras have revealed the answer. A penguin uses its flipper-like forelimbs to swim toward the surface. As it approaches the edge, instead of climbing directly, it suddenly dives headfirst back into the water, sinking with force to a depth of about 10 meters. At this point, the penguin flips over, turns its head sharply upward, and rapidly beats its short legs to rocket toward the surface. With a final flick of its tail and a tilt of its body, it lands firmly on the shore.
It turns out that sinking is essential for rising higher. Without the process of going down, there would be no surprise of coming up; without the accumulation of energy during the descent, there would be no power in the burst upward.
Sometimes, Victory is hidden within the act of sinking.