The celebrated author Bernard Shaw was enjoying a swim in a pool during a stay in South Africa. There were some boys who knew nothing of the author. One small boy was “dared” by his playmates to “duck the old man” for a shilling. He accepted the challenge. When he went close to his victim, panic seized him. Shaw turned, saw the youngster and asked him what he wanted. In halting accent the boy revealed the plot and the shilling bet.
“Well,” said Shaw, looking sternly at the youngster, “If you wait a moment while I get my breath, I’ll let you push my head under water.”
He did, and the small boy swam back triumphantly to collect his shilling!
Although Shaw was a great swimmer, most of us are mortally scared of water. We forget the fact that almost all animals can swim naturally. Even those that are not accustomed to water have no fear of swimming. Human beings have to learn or be taught how to swim. There are of course children of the natives on the west coast of Africa who often swim before they can walk.
Swimming pools
Today there are swimming pools at big schools and in major cities. Learning to swim is considered to be an important part of your education. There are instructors in schools to teach children how to swim. In villages, however, children simply jump into the nearest river or tank and swim. They have no instructors to teach them how to swim.
Aerobic exercises stimulate the heart and lungs for long enough to produce beneficial changes in your body. Walking, running, cycling and swimming are aerobic exercises. They increase the ability of your body to utilize oxygen. Swimming is a simple form of exercise you might like to try out. The key is to start slowly and to be gentle with yourself. Any swimmer will begin to feel both mental and physical benefits.
Research conducted by Dr James Blumathal at Duke University Medical Center showed that just half-an-hour of swimming three times a week boosted memory and mental fitness in people of all ages, most significantly in the middle-aged and elderly. The improvement is both immediate and long-lasting.
There are many other benefits of swimming. When an aircraft lands on the sea in an emergency, those who can swim have a better chance of being saved than those who cannot swim. Similarly, in a shipwreck swimmers can keep themselves afloat until the arrival of a life-saving boat. Sometimes you may be caught up in a flood or you may fall into a river or tank accidentally. Any skill in swimming will save your life. You will also be able to rescue others who are drowning.
Self-confidence
Swimming is not something difficult to learn. You must have self-confidence and you should not be afraid of letting your head go under water occasionally. Some instructors show the beginner how to float on water which is quite easy. With a few days’ training you will be able to keep your head above water and breathe easily. Then the instructor will teach you some strokes.
A story is told of a sailor who fell overboard in the Mediterranean. He was given up for lost, but was picked up by another ship nine hours later. The sailor had been floating in the sea all the time. Later he claimed that he had even slept for a while!
Today swimming is a recognized sport. However, it was not a sport at the beginning of the 19th century. In the latter part of the 19th century swimming clubs and swimming pools appeared in many parts of England. For many years only the breast stroke and the backstroke were used. The free-style swimming was introduced later. The use of arms and legs known as “the crawl” was copied from natives in various parts of the world. The only drawback in swimming is that it is comparatively slower than running.
Like many other sports, swimmers have been trying to invent new methods. They wanted to swim longer distances and to do it faster. Lon distances have been swum down some American rivers. The swim that attracted most attention was crossing the English Channel. Captain Webb, using the breast strokes, crossed the Channel in August 1875. He swam from England to France in 21 hours and 45 minutes.
Crossing the Channel
Those who wanted to cross the Channel faced many difficulties. Although the distance was about 20 kilometres, the tides and the force of the currents make it difficult to cross the Channel. Another hazard is the state of the weather. There is always a west wind or a fog and the water is icy cold even in summer. Therefore swimmers have to wait for days or weeks for conditions to improve.
Swimming the Channel is now an annual event. Swimmers say that it is easier to cross the Channel from England than from France. In an international swimming event held in 1951, 20 men and women took part. Eighteen of them succeeded in swimming from France to England. The winner took a little over 12 hours and won the coveted prize of 1,000 sterling pounds.
In long distance swimming events a boat accompanies each swimmer to provide him with food and drink. He is also advised about the direction. What is more, the competitor is cheered as he proceeds. Those who wish to swim the Channel are thickly coated with grease as a protection against severe cold.
Most of us may not wish to cross the Channel. We just want to dive into the water from a boat and swim for sheer enjoyment.
When you swim you exercise your limbs taking full advantage of the open air and sunshine. Your skill in keeping yourself afloat is a valuable asset. Therefore, it is worthwhile learning how to swim. [email protected]