I never learned how to swim. My sister could swim a little when she was younger, not now tho.

I get surprised when people say they don't know how to swim. When I was younger I just took it for granted that everyone learnt (I had lessons out of school, 'cause there was no swimming lessons in school).
But when I was on work experience at a school, it was really weird to see how all the children were totally different at swimming, some were amazing, some would've drowned. But I think it's good that most schools are teaching children to swim as a rule.
I guess it's more common these days that most children are learning to swim.
I'm pretty alright at swimming 'cause I went to lessons for years and years, but I hate it.

Swimming is fantastic. I've been wanting to take it up again recently but the only pool near me is stoopidly expensive. But it is good fun and supposedly good for you.

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by Acker
I get surprised when people say they don't know how to swim.

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Why? I can drive when other people can't.

I can swim enough to get by, but not very often. Mind you, I suspect my Dad might be a bit disappointed 'cos he's a qualified swimming instructor... not that he actually teaches anyone how to swim very often.

Yep I can swim decently.

I can only swim a few strokes but not very good. My daughter taught herself how to swim and pretty good at it too.

I did all my life saving upto the age of 16. Got somewhat out of shape since then. Could do it now again, but I'd be in a heap after a few minutes

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by Whistler
Why? I can drive when other people can't.

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I'm not really sure why, and what has you being able to drive got to do with this thread? All I was trying to say was that as I, and almost all of the people I know have always been able to swim, it just surprises me when people say they can't swim. It wasn't meant as an insult, or whatever was you took it.

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by Acker
(quotes)

I'm not really sure why, and what has you being able to drive got to do with this thread? All I was trying to say was that as I, and almost all of the people I know have always been able to swim, it just surprises me when people say they can't swim. It wasn't meant as an insult, or whatever was you took it.

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Woah, tiger! Calm down. I didn't take it as an insult. I was just curious as to why you were surprised that some people can't swim.

I used the analogy of driving because it's another activity that dominates our lives and a majority of the population can do it but I accept that some can't drive or choose not to. Just like swimming.

Apparantly a lot of fishermen cant swim due to if the get stuck in the sea they would rather not fight it

My dad had a bad experience on the first day he went swimming with school (the usual pushing in the deep end kinda thing) so my folks made sure that me and my sister went to a club before we started junior school.

I swam for Everton (nothing to do with the football club ) in local and regional competition up until a couple of years ago and I was in the school team with Ste Parry (who now swims for Great Britain). I stopped training about a year ago when work got on top of me. I've been trying to get back to it since I finished uni, but so far I've been too lazy

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by nemesis
i think it should be on a school curriculem...kids go on skiing holidays but thats not going to save their lives if they fall in a river or something...i mean the world is covered by 80%water not snow.
it really got me in my school that theyd make time for skiing yet have no time to teach basic swimming when its far more vital....end of rant..soryy old school memeories seeping back to haunt me even today

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I'm very surprised. All the primary schools around here have swimming on the curriculum. I know cos I get lumbered with buying the bloody stupid rubber hats every term cos they lose them..

At Sam & Bs school reception and yrs 1 & 2 use the schools outdoor pool in the last term of school. The older kids go to the local indoor pool all year round. Dunno how they're gonna get B into the water 'cos he's petrified. It took him 'til the day we finished our 3 week holiday for him to go knee deep in the pool

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by Teresa
Dunno how they're gonna get B into the water 'cos he's petrified. It took him 'til the day we finished our 3 week holiday for him to go knee deep in the pool

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I suspect the fact that he nearly drowned on the first day and you had to do your best Pam Anderson impression may have had something to do with that

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by Stoo
I'd always have to be the one to go fetch the diving brick in swimming class at school

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Me too!!

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by Yvonne
(quotes)
I suspect the fact that he nearly drowned on the first day and you had to do your best Pam Anderson impression may have had something to do with that

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I was a fully clothed Pammie when I jumped in that pool. Bloody cold it was too

In the Netherlands we are surrounded by water so at a very young age you learn how to swim. At the age of 6 or 7 I got my first diploma swimming wise followed by a couple more in the years after that. I'm a pretty good swimmer and I can also float without much trouble

Erm

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by Chambler
In the Netherlands we are surrounded by water

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Have you not realised that Britian is an Island and is totally surrounded by water on all four sides not just two like the Netherlands.

I'm pretty good, or I was when I was younger, even for a porker hehe.

I was taught to swim in my primary school days. And have ever since. I still remember the days of being afraid to go out in my trunks with the other kids *sigh*