Can you swim?

Chuck Stone

I can't remember not being able to swim. My Dad took us to the pool regularly as kids. In a family of 7 all but two can swim well. As a kid I even used to go swimming in the local river with my friends - used to jump off this bridge actually (brag).

I'm not really into the swimming pool any more because you're not allowed to dive or jump in (yes, I'm a big child). Anyway, enough waffle. Do you like swimming? Can you swim?

mauzo

I go every week, twice if I can.

Absolutely love swimming!

My parents used to call me a mermaid because I love water so much

Shenshen

Of course!
I grew up in Germany and spent most of my summers in rivers and lakes.
I still absolutely love swimming, I'll be in the pool at least once a week, twice if I can manage.

Sea Filly

Yes, was dropped in the pool at six months old.

I'm not a strong swimmer though, and panic when my feet aren't touching the ground.

starbelgrade

I drop the kids off at the pool every day.

Shryke

I can fail to drown but I wouldn't quite call it swimming. It's something I plan on working into my routine whenever I get involved in a decent gym in the future.

TheBody

No I can't. Something I'd love to learn to do thought

ger vallely

Only just swam properly for the first time last summer. I was 40 then!!It was a fantastic sensation,really enjoyed it. Got so excited that I'd laugh mid stroke and swallow loads of water. I was always the one sitting on the beach minding the gear but not anymore.I got lessons as a child but I must not have kept them up and never really went to the local pool or the beach very often. When I had children of my own I made sure they took lessons at an early age and kept them up for a few years. They are both great swimmers,very confident in the water.

Chuck Stone

starbelgrade wrote: »

I drop the kids off at the pool every day.

Every day!? :eek:

annascott

Yes. I learned to swim when I was seven. I learned to dive when I was eleven. I still swim, but I have lost my nerve for diving boards...

starbelgrade

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Every day!? :eek:

Usually in the morning at about 8.45.

Praetorian Saighdiuir

The last time I swam was going up the fallopian.

MrStuffins

I never learned because I was sh*t scared of the water!!

My mate's uncle brought us swimming once and I wouldn't get in! He said I was an "idiot" and laughed at me for thinking the water was dangerous.

2 years later he drowned!

mackg

Grew up ten minutes from the beach but no. I intend to do some lessons though when I can afford it. Feel like I'm missing out. Strangely despite not being able to swim I have no fear of the water and have nearly drowned a few times as a result. Bit more cop on these days.

johnmcdnl

I can swim half or maybe 3/4 a length on my back before my legs give in.. Any other type of swimming is beyond me... I will learn though at some stage in my life.. Do wish my parents had just fecked me in a pool to make me learn when I was younger

johnmcdnl

I can swim half or maybe 3/4 a length on my back before my legs give in.. Any other type of swimming is beyond me... I will learn though at some stage in my life.. Do wish my parents had just fecked me in a pool to make me learn when I was younger

Ghandee

I got a fifty meter badge sewed onto the front of me budgie smugglers.

Chuck Stone

MrStuffins wrote: »

2 years later he drowned!

OMG! Poor guy.

MrStuffins

Chuck Stone wrote: »

OMG! Poor guy.

I know! I was only 8! He shouldn't have been calling me an idiot!

Dubwat

I can swim but I was lucky that my school had a swimming pool (25+ years ago). I think it depends/depended on where you live/lived. One of the men who managed the pool couldn't swim...

25+ years ago, our parents tried to set up a competitive swimming club but the school authorities (Christian Brothers) wouldn't allow it because they didn't want girls to be members. There's a bad taste joke there somewhere but I'm not going make it!

Mars Bar

MrStuffins wrote: »

I never learned because I was sh*t scared of the water!!

My mate's uncle brought us swimming once and I wouldn't get in! He said I was an "idiot" and laughed at me for thinking the water was dangerous.

2 years later he drowned!

I laughed. I'm going to hell.

starbelgrade

MrStuffins wrote: »

I never learned because I was sh*t scared of the water!!

My mate's uncle brought us swimming once and I wouldn't get in! He said I was an "idiot" and laughed at me for thinking the water was dangerous.

2 years later he drowned!

I had an uncle who used to take the piss out of me because - at the time - I didn't know how to drive.

He used to bomb around the place in a souped-up Subaru, doing crazy overtakes & flying around bends at breakneck speeds.

A few years ago he spontaneously combusted.

Chuck Stone

MrStuffins wrote: »

I know! I was only 8! He shouldn't have been calling me an idiot!

Because you went all 'Damien Omen' on him and made him drown while you watched dispassionately from the river bank? :eek:

Allyall

Never learned, because my Mother was afraid of water. Went to lessons once, but that didn't last long. Annoyingly, i have lived literally a stones throw away from the sea my whole life.
I used to jump in, where it was shallow enough, or if i knew i could reach the steps/ladder.

Still couldn't tread water if my life depended on it. I remember a friend trying to teach me, and i went under for a sec, that was enough lessons that day..

Mars Bar

To answer the OP, yes I can swim.
At the moment I can go for 10-15 lengths without stopping and then I feel like I'm running out of breath.

We were taught in primary school but it took me a lot longer than anyone else to grasp it (about 3 years longer). Once it clicked, you couldn't stop me. I joined the swimming club and was eventually doing 60 lengths in a session.
Would love to get back to that level of fitness and was nearly there about 4 months ago until I got an injury and didn't commit myself to swimming in the meantime. Missed opportunity really.

MrStuffins

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Because you went all 'Damien Omen' on him and made him drown while you watched dispassionately from the river bank? :eek:

Evidently from your link, Damien was played by Kirsten Dunst!

Chuck Stone

Mars Bar wrote: »

I joined the swimming club and was eventually doing 60 lengths in a session.

Wow. Impressive. That's just shy of a mile.

GLaDOS

I think it's very irresponsible for parents these days not to give their children some sort of swimming lessons. They don't have to be olympians, but should be able to hold their own until they can be helped.

Re. the op, I'm a fairly decent swimmer.

Mars Bar

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Wow. Impressive. That's just shy of a mile.

Thanks
Did it on Mondays and Tuesdays. Always wonder how Mam managed to have the togs dry and ready to go on Tuesday morning after Monday...

Colmustard

Yeah I am a pretty good swimmer, a great exercise.

Chuck Stone

Mars Bar wrote: »

Thanks
Did it on Mondays and Tuesdays. Always wonder how Mam managed to have the togs dry and ready to go on Tuesday morning after Monday...

Mums have special powers that they don't tell anyone about.

Sea Filly

starbelgrade wrote: »

I drop the kids off at the pool every day.

Love that phrase.

girl in the striped socks

Used to be good enough when I was younger. I'm lucky to manage a doggy paddle these days, I'm cometely out of practise.
It's one of the things I want to improve on in the next few months though. Even though I know how to swim I just don't seem to be able so I'm going to go to swimming lessons.

Lollers

Nope, never learnt, I seem to have spent my swimming lessons blowing up my armbands by the side of the pool. I was a bit nervous of water as well and once I was in the pool I became as buoyant as a brick.

crazy cabbage

Yes i can swim and used to be fairly good doing 60ish lenghts in sesion. Then life hit me and havent been swiming in over a year :eek: will have to get back into it.

First learned on holidays as a kid. My brother who is 3 years younger than me learned the second day of holidays. I threw a jealous fit and spent the next 4 days constantly in the pool until i got it. Nearly drowned a cuple of times when i though it would be a good idea to jump straight into the deep end to try and force myself into swiming. The lifegards were not impressed :rolleyes:

BigFatGiant

I could not even float 2 years ago. Really put the effort in and learned. Im up to 50 lengths/1km now. Try go 3 times a week if i can. Really wish there was more importance put on swimming in primary and secondary school in this country. There are plenty of good facilities in most towns. Its a much more enjoyable excercise than running.

woodoo

I would put Michael Phelps to shame.

Ectoplasm

Love to swim but I don't do it enough these days. I've always loved the water and actually don't remember not knowing how to swim. Apparently we went on holidays when I was a toddler I was constantly running away from my parents and jumping into the pool forcing them or my older brothers to jump in after me. They decided the simplest solution was to just teach me to swim straight away and I picked it up in an afternoon.

After that I started lessons and actually swam competitively for a while. I really wish I'd kept it up but I got sick of swimming six days a week and having no life outside of it.

Moon Indigo

Few bad experiences as a kid I and from there although I would get in a pool I was one of those holding onto the bar with white knuckles and fear in my eyes :eek:. Panic really sets in when I can't feel the end of the pool. So no I can't swim even though I am nearly 30. Feel like such an idiot when I am in a position of having to admit that. I am determined to learn and its one of those things on my bucket list.

grey_so_what

Can't swim, won't swim, terrified to swim.....

Not going on any bucket list.:)

prettygurrly

yep good confident swimmer and saved two lives over the years in non lifeguard attended pools and in the sea. was up to 60 lengths in 45 minutes when I was fit but then got really bored....now up to 20 lengths over 30 minutes lately and loving the swimming again...

EchoO

Moon Indigo wrote: »

Few bad experiences as a kid I and from there although I would get in a pool I was one of those holding onto the bar with white knuckles and fear in my eyes :eek:. Panic really sets in when I can't feel the end of the pool. So no I can't swim even though I am nearly 30. Feel like such an idiot when I am in a position of having to admit that. I am determined to learn and its one of those things on my bucket list.

I learned to swim when I was 22. I really wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. There's bound to be adult classes somewhere that you can go to.

EZ24GET

swimming was one of the required physical education classes but I learned to swim before that. Enjoy it very much

El Guapo!

I'm a fúckin fish!
Come at me bro.

westendgirlie

I've been swimming since I was 4. Love the pool and love the sea too!

Swimming is a great way to exercise. You use most of your muscles at the same time.

Pottler

sis was leinster champion, I swam at national level - was a sporty family, mine was the backstroke. I can still do it like a turbine,.... for about 50m. Damn smokes.. gotta quit. Or stop exerting myself..

Mysteriouschic

I love swimming I can't remember what age I learnt it was young. I was told I started copying a woman swimming in a pool. Then a bit later I did swimming lessons for a while. I can do all the swimming styles. I have a good technique well my family are always saying it. I really enjoy swimming and still do. I'd never joined competitive swimming. I was worried the water would be really deep. Now I'm not too bothered. I really want to join a swimming club now. I love swimming by myself I can really focus on swimming.

Irish Guitarist

I like swimming. I can't swim.

The last time I tried to swim was when I was in primary school. The teacher would bring the class to an indoor swimming pool every week where two or three qualified instructors would give us swimming lessons. It's not easy to learn how to do something when you're worried about thirty or so children laughing at you.

I got an award when we were finished with the lessons. My friend pointed out that it was only because they felt sorry for me and I was still a crap swimmer. Screw you Brian you miserable prick.

Fluffybums

Love swimming, best form of exercise. Now jog more than swim and regret that every time I get into the pool, still rather swim a mile than jog it and find it easier. I was lucky, could swim before I went to Aus as a child and then M&D paid for good lessons with a former Olympic swimming coach and then former Olympic water polo coach, still have a recognisable aussie crawl. Can do all four strokes (butterfly is a bit iffy, but can just about manage 25m), my favourite event was the IM and can still just about manage a 4x25m IM on a good day (I'm a tad over weight and closer to 50 than 45).
Been teaching swimming for over 30 years. Also got into lifesaving/water safety, scuba and tried water skiing, canoeing and wind surfacing probably as a direct of being so comfortable in the water. It's a great gateway sport.

Mars Bar

I find that swimming alone is great thinking time. Sometimes I forget what length I'm on coz I've just been going through the motions while my mind wandered off.

I'm not very good at the whole swimming thing. If I was thrown off a boat I'd probably die within minutes. I can do a few lengths of the pool though but that's about it. Doesn't really bother me, wasn't something I ever wanted to do!