Do you think it's impossible for some people to learn to swim?

[PennyNotSoWise]

Just that really.

I went to lessons as a kid with the school and failed, private lessons after that when I was a bit older and failed, and tried again in my late teens, but I just can't do it, it feels impossible.

I can kind of swim underwater for a short while, but can't get back up to the top, so no good unless I have a really long snorkel

I tried really hard, and I don't think it's fear that's holding me back, because I really want to be able to do it, I just physically can't.

I'd love to have one last try at it now, but people laugh when I tell them I can't swim so I'd feel a bit embarrassed trying to learn as an adult But it is a skill I'd really love to master, and I think an important one.

Just curious what others think? Is it possible for it to be impossible?

@Peanut55

That's a lovely story, thanks for sharing. I bet he felt amazing! Encouraging to hear that he learned despite a big fear too. I'm genuinely not scared so I think maybe worth one final go then :)

@ladybee28

Thank you so much! Your post has made me feel so motivated to go for it, I can almost hear the Rocky training music in my head I'll definitely come back and update, absolutely.

@Acrossthepond55

He said being on a troop ship in the middle of the Pacific in WWII was the most frightening experience of his life.

Your poor dad :( This is kind of why I'm eager to learn, just in case I'm ever in a situation where I need to do it. Probably unlikely, but you never know.

I remember failing my 25m swimming badge aged 11. For years swimming left me breathless - I could run a marathon but I couldn't swim a length. I went backwards if I tried to use a kickboard. Eventually I learnt to swim in my 40s. Total Immersion was a game changer - it focuses on balance and streamlining. Once you've nailed those you're golden

Ah I would have agreed with you previously, genuinely couldn't swim at all. Not like these people who sayvthey can't swim but what they actually mean is they can't swim very well or aren't very confident. I'd never swum a stroke without a float. Was quite convinced that I was just too dense to float.

But I started lessons at 30. After 6 months I moved up to 'improvers' class from beginners, and a few months further on I was going swimming an extra evening outside of my lessons doing 30-40 lengths. Got my 200m badge as well

My teacher was so smug when he was trying to get me to do surface dives and I couldn't get down below the surface at all - "remember when you thought you couldn't float?" 🙄

Are you trying too hard? Have you tried lying still on the surface and relaxing, face up?

As someone of 51 who has never been able swim despite lessons from the age of 7-15 and then again in my 20s, 30s and 40s this really made me laugh! You surely don't expect me to just lie on top of water! I've watched what a brick does and believe me, my body does the same. I'm terrified of water, cannot relax in it so your advice although I can believe it is well-meant, is pretty useless.

@JigsawsAreInPieces

Calm down, they were only trying to help.

Everyone can swim with help and the right teacher, just takes time and patience.

@JigsawsAreInPieces Bricks don't have air in them - people do!

@PennyNotSoWise Have you tried different strokes? I find front crawl really hard but I can swim back and breaststroke.

When I was a kid I was super super scrawny, no obvious body fat to speak of and couldn't swim to save my life, couldn't even float even though I loved the water. I got the hang of it only after puberty when I became a bit more shapely, I'm a really strong swimmer now.

Yes - me!! I have had group adult classes, one on one adult lessons and I even took myself off to a retreat for two days who guaranteed I would be able to swim by the end of it. Nope.
I wish so much that I could and I literally have dreams that I’m swimming occasionally. It would be one of the biggest achievements of my life if I could swim!
It’s been about ten years since my last failed attempt (I’m 42 now) so maybe it’s time for another go once coronavirus is over.
I just got sick of feeling so stupid and scared so felt that I couldn’t put myself through it any more!

DS2 is unable to swim without a bouancy aid as he has more muscle density to bone ratio than most people due to skeletal dysplasia. He also has very little body fat, so even less ability to float. He has had many swimming lessons and gave up in the end as he wasn't enjoying it.

My DH couldn’t swim, had multiple sets of lessons as a child, but didn’t get anywhere. He took lessons in his 40s, took him a while to believe he wouldn’t just sink if he lifted his feet off the floor, but he can swim now.

@Seventyone72seventy3

Yeah. I can do the breast stroke (if that's the right name for it, where your arms go forward and out) underwater for a while, but I can't get back up to the surface and kind of end up going downwards 😕

I couldn't do a front crawl or any others.

The trick for breathing and swimming is stay near the top. It doesn't work otherwise.

I stopped swimming when I had ME and got too fat for a swimming costume.

my three all had swimming lessons but both ds firmly claim to be non swimmers, they do actually sink like a stone

DS1 and dh went off to do a taster SCUBA session and DS1 did go right to the bottom without any assistance....dh had to have ALLLLL the weights to get to the bottom of the pool

We joke that they (the boys) have bones of adamantium, like Wolverine.

Swimming relies on our innate buoyancy. We can all float. But fear is a huge thing that stops people learning. It’s the same as learning to cycle, drive a car or ice skating. Everyone can do it. It doesn’t mean you will be Olympic champion good. But if you learn young enough, it’s very easy. That’s why many people put babies to swimming classes, and 2-3yo on balance bikes. I gave my 4yo ice skates and she was waddling around very quickly. Compare this to adults who are so scared to fall. Or drown in a pool or fall off a bike.

Yes. I can swim a little but can't tread water, I simply sink. I cannot do it, it is not for the want of trying whatever anyone says.

I used to teach swimming and I taught a lot of adults. I never met anyone who actually couldn't swim. Lots of adults get very tense and panicky and struggle with the breathing. Once you crack floating and breathing the rest follows. I taught a lady to swim who was paralysed down one side of her body and a man who had 'died' in the ambulance on the way to hospital as a child after a drowning incident, so he started out with a lot of fear.
Concentrate on the reasons why you would like to learn and, when the pools reopen, book some 1:1 lessons. It's so important to find a teacher you get on with. Give it a year and you'll be so glad you started honestly.

OP I suddenly lost my panic reflex at the grand old age of 47 in a swimming pool in Greece on ny honeymoon.

I couldn't tell you what was different or why - just suddenly felt relaxed and calm, and found I can swim! No frantic breathless thrashing around getting nowhere!

Bloody revelation! Am still crap at front crawl as cant put my face into the water, but can breastroke at my ease and at a reasonable clip

My mum's a swimming teacher and she always says some children just sink I'm not a brilliant swimmer because I don't like putting my face in the water, if you can swim underwater it does feel like you've mastered an important step!

Some people won't be able to swim due to physical disabilities (and many people with disabilities can) but I think for everyone else they just need the right teacher and the right mental attitude. Find the right teacher, pay for 1-1 if you can afford it and you'll get it. DH couldn't ride a bike and I paid for him to have two lessons in his early 30s and within one lesson he'd got it. He's still a little lacking confidence on the roads (and wasn't confident enough to have a childseat on his bike but as a confident cyclist I found that hard myself) but the cycling itself hasn't been a problem since and I'm sure it will be the same with swimming. Go for it!

Lessons at school, adult lessons, still sink like a stone but I am afraid of the water.

I do not float, I sink.

Can't tread water and can't swim.

I think some people just can't do it.

“I can kind of swim underwater for a short while, but can't get back up to the top, so no good unless I have a really long snorkel”

But that means you can swim!

I learned at 18. I’ve never been able to manage breath control though.

What kind of swimming do you feel you can’t do?

Question: does race play a role here? My (black African) DP told me that white people are generally better at swimming because of something to do with bone density 🤔

Try the Shaw Method. I am not selling anything, but it is fantastic. Just google.