A life skill

I swam at another community pool last night. I was in the pool with a few other swimmers during my 1 hour practice. The two masters swimmers I was sharing the lap swimming lanes with are both in their 60's and really fit. These two guys are an inspiration to me. They swam at the same high school in the 1960's, grew up together, started lives and families but still make the time to get together and train a few times a week. I think it's an amazing story.

I have about 5 swimmers I look up to regarding lifelong fitness. All of them train daily and are committed to their health. Ages range from their 60's to their 80's. A few of them hold masters records but that's not at all why I look up to them. They all value life long fitness, a quality I wish more people considered (for their own good).

As I was training I was watching one of the aerobic instructors work with a middle aged couple in the shallow end. At first I wasn't sure what they were doing. It looked like a private lesson but it wasn't aerobic at all. After a few minutes I realized this might be a swim lesson. It struck me as odd only because these people were likely in their 50's. They were using the noodles and the buoyancy belts in almost everything they did and they were in 3'6" of water depth. My initial feelings were of confusion and awe that individuals of that age were unable to swim at any skill level at all. I thought about it for the next half hour while training. I was curious enough to ask the instructor afterward if it was indeed a swim lesson. She was a little hesitant but admitted that yes, it was a swim lesson. I immediately replied that I thought that was great! The fact that these people were voluntarily overcoming their fear of water and learning a new skill was nothing but positive. I had a really nice conversation with two instructors and a lifeguard afterward about how important it is for all people to at least know how to swim at a survival level. We briefly discussed the lack of resources minorities have with accessing pools and coaches which somehow crossed over into talking about some professional swimmers. At one point I was asked if I was Michael Phelps brother... to which I promptly replied "I hope not". I know it was meant as a compliment, but... I'll leave it at that. I had the pleasure of discussing my brief interactions with Cullen Jones, a 2008 Gold Medalist Olympian and arguably the highest ranked black swimmer ever. I had a nice conversation with him at the 2009 World Champ Trials and the 2010 Masters Short Course Nationals. I mentioned his program to get minorities swimming and what a nice, down to earth guy he is in person.

I think it's tough to deny swimming is a life skill.