S.W.I.M

Black  people swimming. Oxymoron perhaps? Well I'll tell you one thing, back in primary school when people of colour were still the minority in model-c schools, when it came to swimming, things were, how should I put this? AWKWARD! I remember my first swimming lesson, first grade, age 6, all the Caucasians (and my friend Sanele as the only black representative) jumped in and started to swim laps, while the rest of us non Caucasians  (yes Indian included, all one of her) did the "chuchu train" which entailed holding on the the wall and moving along like a train. The only thing we had in common with the "advanced" swimmers was that we all got wet *holds back tears*

A couple of lessons later I decided I had had enough and took the plunge! I let go of the wall! I was the first of the beginners to break free, graduating from wall-holding to a kicking board!!! 

And that was the highlight of my swimming career.

This year I decided to resume swimming. Obviously I had come a long way from the "chuchu train" days but I was no Chad le Clos. I was actually really inspired by the SA team at the Olympics last year, so decided I would give this a go and perhaps, hopefully maybe, one day in my dreams, in my next life, I would swim for South Africa *clears throat*

So I did a bit of research, emailed a few schools called a few places until I found My Swim, a swimming school in Olivedale, Johannesburg. It's perfect and for all ages and all levels of swimming. 

I have gone religiously every week even during winter! Every week is a focus on a different stroke. First you do legs, then arms then full stroke. I thought doing breaststroke with no legs (legs crossed) was bad...until I moved on to butterfly!!

Butterfly! After my first attempt at this style, I turned around and  told my instructor that if ever I was thrown in the sea and a shark was after me, I doubt I'll ever default to butterfly!

I have since improved and starting to even enjoy it! But even then I would still pick the other three over butterfly in an attempt water/shark getaway...though I have never seen one revert to backstroke in the movies when chased by a shark *thinking*

Swimming is actually not as bad as people make it out to be. Once you get your breathing right and learn to relax your body, half the battle is won!

This topic is a bit left field from what I usually write but the purpose was to subtly convince people, especially my people of colour to take up swimming as a pastime. This business of black people not being able to swim is just about as inaccurate as "white man can't jump"...no wait, bad comparison.

I have always been about living a balanced life. I played sports from hockey to netball (which I bowed down gracefully out of after only making the D team in high school), to basketball and athletics throughout my school career and still managed to get good grades. During my university years I traded this for gym which I've maintained to this day. 

In a late meeting at work I once mentioned I had to go swimming (I swim in the evenings) and everybody laughed (because I'm black). But I was serious, that's what happens when you're me. I'm so random  and sarcastic my boss says she often can't tell if I'm being serious or not *sigh*

Besides the health and fitness benefits of swimming, for me it was more about the discipline of picking something, sticking to it and working at perfecting it.

So one day. While you're busy having a fun time at the beach there in Durban (because Cape Town water is just too cold) and you see a black girl swimming away from a ferocious shark, smile and wave...and then probably rush for help! A pool is one thing but the ocean, well that's another story!