My wife is pro even into her 40's and not getting in the water for 2 years she can turn up and do 50 lengths with ease. She was a syncro swimmer in her younger days and trained 3 hours a day every day from around 10 years old to early 20's. Like as fish.
Poll: POLL: How well can you swim?
- Thread starter Curio
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Strong, I happily swim 2km two to three times a week, have been known to do 5km when bored. Also used to be a lifeguard, many moons ago though but I'd hope I could still help somebody out.
Talking of swimming, I'm off to the pool right now
Talking of swimming, I'm off to the pool right now
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I was a good swimmer as a child but haven't swam in many years so I likely not be great in the scenario.
Splash like a baby
I think the key is rhythm, the more flapping around you do the quicker you will sink. I know from experience
I think the key is rhythm, the more flapping around you do the quicker you will sink. I know from experience
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I float quite well and can keep myself from sinking for a few hours but actual swimming (crawl/breast etc) I'm really bad at. My body bends at the waist so while my upper body is horizontal and doing all the work my legs are vertical and do bugger all 
Strong, can swim 1/2 iron man distance (2000m) indoor and regularly swim 1000m at a half decent pace (~1:47 / 100m)
Have never swam in open water properly though (other than holiday in the sea)
My aim is to continue swimming (5 times a week) and be able to swim the full iron man distance indoor at a reasonable time, around 1 hour 20
Have never swam in open water properly though (other than holiday in the sea)
My aim is to continue swimming (5 times a week) and be able to swim the full iron man distance indoor at a reasonable time, around 1 hour 20
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Got a certificate for a BT Swimathon once 
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im a weak swimmer, i can manage a couple of lengths of an average pool and im out of breath, i can keep afloat easily but i never did much swimming at school and the swimming lessons at school involved races from one end of the pool to the other i used to choose the non swimmers option of just pratting around.
ive never understood the swimming techniquie, i can kick my legs and do breast stroke to get a length in but never managed anything else successfully.
ive never understood the swimming techniquie, i can kick my legs and do breast stroke to get a length in but never managed anything else successfully.
Practice makes perfect. I was the same not long ago, I could swim 2 lengths of crawl then I was knackered. With practice technique and fitness got better and I could then do 5-10 lengths.
The key is mixing it up - Fast, slow different strokes (though I just tend to do crawl and breast stroke for cooling down)
The key is mixing it up - Fast, slow different strokes (though I just tend to do crawl and breast stroke for cooling down)
Got a certificate for a BT Swimathon once
I remember being confused as a kid doing the swimathon that people would sponsor you for doing what I thought was a fairly short distance at the time (50 lengths of a 25m pool). Perceptions are such a weird thing.
Strong. Each Saturday I swim 1500m in the pool and I occasionally I do a km in the lake on a Monday. Open water triathlon swimming is a bit like being inside a washing machine filled with feet and people will think nothing of swimming over the top of you.
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I know, it was around the same distance which I done when I was kid haha.. I've never swam more than that, few lengths here and then when I do go swiming, I would say I am adequate swimmer,
Well, that happens if you're black and American. I'm always reminded of this awful story, when swimming/people being unable to swim comes up,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11172054
"Black" people have bigger problems in this area than simple social exclusion.
I remember some years ago talking to a Training Officer who worked at Sandhurst and he pointed out that the Black recruits typically cant swim!
Put them in a pool and they either struggle or actually sink.
The explanation he offered was that a fit Black man will have rather less body fat than a fit White man. (Cold climate adaptation and all that) This means that while most fit White people are naturally buoyant, Fit Black men tend not to be so they have to work really hard simply to stay afloat let alone actually swim anywhere.
Pro. Or at least I was.
Amateur club swimmer for many years. Swum for Wiltshire in trials for the national squad, and was in the county finals (top 5 in my age group) for quite a few years running.
I've got old and fat and unfit now, but I still have the technique and have zero issues at all being in water. The only reason I get out of the sea on holidays is because I turn into a lobster in the sun!
Amateur club swimmer for many years. Swum for Wiltshire in trials for the national squad, and was in the county finals (top 5 in my age group) for quite a few years running.
I've got old and fat and unfit now, but I still have the technique and have zero issues at all being in water. The only reason I get out of the sea on holidays is because I turn into a lobster in the sun!