I live in Deal, Kent, a small town by the sea, and have never swam in the sea. I don’t even like paddling. I am a leader at my local Sea Scout group, but my fear of water means I never go out in kayaks or boats, as I am terrified of falling in.
Yet these amazing people on the Olympics and Paralympics swam like fish, and it had me hooked. I was thrilled to watch the races, crying with Ellie Simmonds and planning my evenings around the final races.
When I went back to university in September, I was determined to find a sport to get involved with, so I called my local swimming pool and signed up for a term of swimming lessons. After Christmas I went back for another term. I am now the proud owner of both a 50m and a 100m swimming certificate!
It wasn’t an easy achievement. Swimming is one of the hardest things I’ve ever learnt to do, and I’m still not as good as I’d like to be at it.
But my confidence has greatly improved, and I have set myself a goal of going swimming in the sea this summer.
Learning to swim has done wonders for me, not only in water confidence, but in my day-to-day confidence, body image and strength. It has made me feel more healthy, and given me a sense of achievement I haven’t felt in a long time. I plan to go back to swimming lessons in September.
Harriet has a blog , externalabout her swimming.
