To be embarrassed that I can’t swim at the age of 33!

[Benny91]

I’m sure it’s also unusual to not be able to swim at this age!

As I’m thinking of doing adult swim lessons and feel people will ridicule me!

I did have a few lessons as a child, but because of the fear of drowning and also with my severe eczema (due to the chemicals in pool burning my skin), I didn’t continue doing so.

Do you know any mature adults that can’t swim? And is it unusual?

I learnt at 39, promised myself a watersports holiday for my 40th.

I know a few people, it's not a big deal. You've got good reasoning to of stopped learning. Get back in the pool, it's fun, it could save your life. You'll all be in the same situation re learners.

I leaned to swim when I was 60. By the time was 62 I was swimming 40'lengths in an hour smelling it.

Do try, your age is no barrier.

Only started a few years ago and the whole class was people my age (40s) or in their 70s. It’s not unusual, when we were young swimming lessons just weren’t seen as priority (a lot of my friends learned as adults)

I learnt to swim at 28. My then-boyfriend, now-DH taught me on holiday. I didn’t go as a child because swimming caused me horrendous ear infections that didn’t stop until I was early teens – by then I didn’t wants to go lessons and had such a huge aversion to getting water in my ears.

It’s never too late to learn.

I learnt to swim a couple of years ago, and nrly 35. It was great to finally be able to learn, just found classes that suited me, and joined up,

I know it sounds daunting, and before my first lesson I was a bag of nerves, but I didn't regret it at all.

I learnt a few years ago at my leisure centre, I was 45. The waiting list was 2 years for adult classes, so it’s not unusual at all!

There was a whole range of people from early 20s to retired. Some were terrified of water and never been in a pool before. Some just wanted to improve their technique. Everyone was supportive of each other.

Just do it.

Why should anyone ridicule you? If you want to learn to swim now, go for it! I can swim but only just to be honest like I could probably do a full length of a pool and back again just about but not with very good form. My daughter is now 4 and learning to swim and I’ve been thinking about getting lessons myself to improve my technique so I can achi ally spend time in the pool with her without hating it and Ben confident enough basically to rescue her if I beed d to.

Anyone who feels like ridiculing me can shove it!

I started learning to swim in January, ages 47. Everyone in my club is better than me - even those in the beginners lane. And everyone has been so encouraging. Go for it! It’s the best hobby and the only one I’ve consistently stuck with.

My DM can't swim, she's more than twice your age.

According to reports, nearly a third of UK adults cannot swim or are very weak swimmers, defined as being unable to swim a 25 m length, so you're far from alone.

www.swimming.org/learntoswim/swim-england-adult-swimming-framework/

If you have lessons you'll be with other people who also cannot swim so of course people won't ridicule you!

I finally learnt at 36. Was so pleased I did.

One of the mums at my DC’s school was telling me the other week that she’s recently started adult swimming lessons at the local leisure centre, and she was talking about how positive she’d been finding the experience and how supportive the swimming teacher and other adult learners in her swimming class had been.

One important point to remember is that anyone in an adult swim class will be there because they can’t swim or because they’re wanting to improve their swimming. They’re not going to be ridiculing you.

hey I’m 31 and can’t swim! I too have been considering adult swim lessons because I’d live to know how but the fear has always been too much

Go for lessons.

no need to be embarrassed.

I know someone who at 40ish couldn’t swim - just never had the chance to learn in his childhood.

He went to local pool and had adult lessons.

Fell in love with it and went on to train to be a lifeguard and then became the deputy manager at the same pool!

plenty of adults can’t swim. Really hope you can give it a go. It’s never too late.

I could swim a width but wasn’t confident in water if I couldn’t touch the floor . I had lessons in my 50s and while still not a great swimmer I can go in the deep end now . My lovely teacher retired but I have considered trying again and I did enjoy it . Go for it OP . Incidentally all my adult children are great swimmers . I made sure they had lessons so they would be more confident than me .

Don’t be embarrassed OP, quite a lot of adults can’t swim. There are also a surprising number who can’t ride a bike.

I can swim, sort of. I can do the breaststroke and tread water but I can’t do front crawl. I’m not a strong swimmer at all and would never jump into water to attempt to help someone in difficulty (because I would be no help and probably end up in trouble myself).

It’s never too late to learn, if you want to.

My late great aunt learned in her 50s. She then very much enjoyed going swimming socially every week into old age. It's never too late!