Crossword Genius

The first defeat for a swimmer (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

trout

'for a swimmer' is the definition.
(trout is a kind of aquatic vertebrate)

'the first defeat' is the wordplay.
'the first' becomes 't' (rst letter of 'the').
'defeat' becomes 'rout' (routing is a kind of defeating).
't'+'rout'='TROUT'

(Other definitions for trout that I've seen before include "one often tickled?" , "interfering old woman" , "It rises to fly" , "old bag" , "bad-tempered woman" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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