During the summer I went to Vitla, near Mangalore where my native place is. I came to know that there will be swimming coaching classes for three weeks and I was excited.
My mother took me, my sister and four other cousins to the swimming classes every day. The classes were from 9 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.
On the first day we were allowed to play in the kids’ pool which was only two feet deep. I did not like that there were few dead insects in it.
On the second day, we started on the bigger pool. Initially, we were taught to completely submerge ourselves in water. It was very tough and I almost cried. After practising it for 3-4 days, our coach taught us to swim by keeping our hands and legs straight, dipping our head in the water and kicking our legs. Within a few days, I learnt how to swim.
The next step was diving. We had to dive from a raised platform to the 7 feet deep pool. At first I was scared, but when I saw others diving, I mustered up all my courage and dived. But my diving posture was not right. I practiced diving and within a few days I could dive smoothly.
On the last day, there was a swimming race. I was nervous. I finished on fourth place and got a certificate for swimming 25 meters. Yes! I can swim now. I am yet to learn the different strokes. My dream is to be a champion swimmer, but I still have a long way to go.
Swimming is a good exercise because every day when the swimming session was over, I would be quite hungry and eat more than usual. Swimming keeps us fit and healthy. It keeps us cool and calm. It’s enjoyable and relaxing.
Anirudha Krishna K., IV, The Springs Continental School, Manjeri, Malappuram
