Comments on: Confession: I Don’t Know How To Swim

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:55:08 +0000

I’m 18 and I learnt to swim pretty much just after I could walk. I come from a very nautical family so was plunged into the “deep end” at a very early stage of my life. By the time I was 7, I had joined a swimming club and started swimming competitively when I was 9. From there I progressed to an international standard during my teens but unfortunately had to give up the intense commitment to training soon after going to University. I have grown up on the water – I love everything about the sea and the water and you will usually find me in the water more than on the land. I’ve tried just about every water sport you can do and I can’t get enough of it.

However, my boyfriend (of about 3 months) cannot swim and when he told me I was very surprised because I just presumed almost everyone learnt how to swim. Being with him I have definitely found a new understanding as to the reasons why people haven’t learnt to swim or don’t swim.
Being with me he has become more keen to learn as he recognises most of my life revolves around the water. But, he is really nervous, about the embarrassment more than anything, and I don’t know if anyone knows of any tips that can help him pick up the concepts of swimming easily without too much worrying on his behalf. Being a retired competitive swimmer it is so difficult to teach someone the basics of swimming when you don’t know how to do this the right way!

By: tallwithglasses

tallwithglasses — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:06:55 +0000

My mom never took me to swimming lessons, I just learned sorta. I’m not the best, but I can float for 20 secs. I don’t know how to hold my breath good.

By: dancer4lyphe

dancer4lyphe — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 01:17:24 +0000

when i just turned 5 was when my mom made me go to swimming classes and im so glad now that she did. im 16 and i love the water like crazy now.

By: Aisling Hart

Aisling Hart — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 04:40:50 +0000

I’ve known how to swim ever since I was a wee little lass. I live in Florida, where you can’t go two miles without bumping into a lake, so swimming is kind of essential down here. A friend of my grandmother, a nice English lady, taught me the basics in her pool while I was in preschool, and then I took regular lessons at the local pool. I think that everyone should learn how to swim, just as a safety precaution. I’m not exactly at home in the water, but I feel a lot safer knowing that if I were to fall into the lake at the edge of my property while no one else is around, I wouldn’t drown. Plus, it’s a really great way to get exercise!

By: Chloe

Chloe — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 19:26:48 +0000

I’m 15 and still a non-swimmer unfortunately. I’ve tried countless times to take a chance and learn how to swim (I even tried having a 12 year old teach me how to swim. That’s how bad it is for me.) but I can’t do it. It’s not that I’m afraid of the water. I love water. It’s the thought of drowning or sinking to the bottom of the ocean or swimming pool that scares me. And remembering a few summers ago incident that involved a friend of mine and a swimming pool doesn’t help me either. I wish I could grasp the courage to swim. Even my boyfriend can swim, and he’s talked about us swimming together at his place over summer but I have yet to confess that I can’t swim. He’s a year younger than me (don’t judge me) and can swim. He’s a very sweet guy and he would never judge me for something that I can or can’t do. He’s supportive and caring of my limitations and feelings. But how can I even tell him that I can’t swim?

By: Cindy

Cindy — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 20:07:51 +0000

I’m 15 and haven’t learned to swim yet. I’m a bit scared to be drown since like ever. But I do enjoy being on the pool with one of those thingys that helps you stay floating on the surface.

By: jaime

jaime — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 21:20:20 +0000

Ive been able to swim by mysslf scince i was about one and half but i first had lessons when i was 6 months old and at primary (elementry) schools here its comoulsery to have lessone at least once a year everyday for a week

By: Selena

Selena — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 23:30:05 +0000

I’m now 13 and i’ve been swimming since i was about 1 and a half ( i know pretty freaky) but it just came naturally i can hold my breathe for longer than a minute (about a minute and 30 seconds) and i just love it <3

By: Kiki

Kiki — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 17:11:03 +0000

I started at swimming lessons when I was six months old and have been swimming since. I have been a lifeguard and instructor since the age of sixteen. The amount of courses I’ve taken have taught me many things outside of the pool like confidence, leadership and good self-image.

By: basschick

basschick — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 15:22:23 +0000

i can not swim either, do not worry. i looove water but i am also scared of it… i wish i could but i do not have daily access to a pool or something so how am i supose to learn? if it was a life or death situation, i think i could force myself to live. haha