Huh. I wouldn't worry at all about saying my kid was in a swim meet or chess tournament, given an appropriate social context. I have a friend whose child is competing statewide in gymnatsics and I don't expect her to act like it's not happening. I wouldn't say this, though: "DS did 100 pressups last night at home." Participation in a group event (that other parents might even want to know about for their kids) is small talk but random statements of accomplishments are sort of weird, IMO. I wouldn't say "DD went to the swim meet and won gold in 3 events!"