I learnt the same way as my older brothers did, that consisted of my Dad taking me down to the local swimming pool when I was 6 years old.
He told me to get changed and then he walked out into the pool area (in his outdoor shoes) - took me to the deep end, picked me up over his head and threw me as far out into the pool as he could (with Mum standing behind him saying No don`t do that).
The on-duty life guard just looked at my dad and said `Nice one mate`.
Dad said to my Mum `well he`s got 2 choices . . sink or swim!`
I made it to the side using a sort of desperate doggy paddle and my Dad said `Job done`.
Not sure if you would get away with that nowdays though
as for black people not being good swimmers, i'm sure i read that its something to do with different bone density so it makes it a lot harder for them to stay afloat.
Exactly! Blacks have higher bone density, making their bones heavier and slower swimmers. I guess they choose to practice other sports where BMD is actually on their favour such as running or basket etc...Maybe this is why their parents do not enroll them in swimming lessons?
I have the same trauma is Eastbourne, although the bit that lives with me was my uncle putting a dead stinking fish on my neck and watched it slither down my arm. Not cool.
I think I would agree with that - but then I am no expert .
My understanding is that it`s related partly to `fast twitch` muscle reponses and that makes some people more adept at dynamic sports like boxing, sprinting as opposed to more endurance based sports.
However as the article states, there are a combination of many physical and social issues that come into play.
I learned to swim at about age 7 by trying to float on my back. I discovered if I kicked a little, then I'd start moving. That gave me the confidence to turn over and try swimming on my front. I now generally do 500m to 1km (depending on how much time I have), using a probably not very efficient form of breaststroke.
With my kids, I'd have them stand some distance from me, within their depth, and have them try to swim towards me. We gradually increased the distance - and then they found they were swimming.
btw - it's never too late. My wife until about 4 years ago, couldn't swim 20m (lack of confidence). She's now quite happy doing up to 600m.
I don't remember learning to swim. My first pool memory is a lesson aged two but I could already swim properly by then. My husband taught himself at the age of 15 as neither of his parents can swim so never took him for lessons or just for fun.
more or less the same here, except I was a bit younger. We lived next to the sea so learning to swim was an absolute necessity, except my mum didn't say no.