Grew up in a place where learning to swim was only accessible for rich folk, so I didn't learn as a child. Truth is, I've always wanted to learn but always felt too old. Now, well, I might actually be. How realistic is it to learn at this age? I of course am not looking to be competitive, just to enjoy being in the water and not afraid to drown.
I’m 46 and I just started this past September. It’s the hardest thing I have ever done. But I really love the water and i want to incorporate swimming into my workout routine. I never was afraid of the water and really love it and am comfortable in it. But I couldn’t tread water it swim 75 yards if I had to save my life.
I’m not much better now, but only in the last 3 weeks have I had frequent access to a pool to really get in and try to work on it. Before that it we very sporadic, maybe once a week at best, plus one lesson a week.
You won’t know until you try. But make sure you give it time. I was and am getting frustrated at my lack of any tangible progress. But it’s too early to quit.
Good luck.
I learned at 50. I can do all of the competitive strokes (fly, back, breast, and front crawl/free), and turns (flip for free and back, open for breast and fly). I have competed in open water events up to 5K, and in every stroke (including IM) at masters meets. You're 10 years ahead of my schedule
I started at 39. 3:54 per 100 pace. Today I’m at 1:46 pace, swimming 2-3x per week
It’s hard but you can do it.
My wife learned when she was fifty.
I used to teach swimming lessons, there are instructors who specialize in teaching adults at most pools that offer lessons.
At the gym I go to, there's a 70-year-old man who's learning to swim. I always think it's great that even if you're older, you're still willing to learn new things. It's never too late to learn something
i was taking classes since last year and there were people in their 50s and 60s learning how to swim!
Never too late! Though I knew how to swim since I was a kid, I started learning freestyle in my late 40s because I wanted to pursue triathlon. So go for it! 💪🏼
53 with messed up knees Took up swimming for the low impact and 5 months later I swim an hour straight and am addicted to it! Like others said, it’s never too late!
I learned at 38. Now it’s my favorite workout. Low impact on my knees and back.
It's never too late, but the longer you've lived with no experience in the water, the more obstacles you will have to overcome. All of these are manageable and I've worked with people in their 60s and 70s who fought hard and are swimming today!
The first is breathing. I don't know how comfortable you are in the water, but many who have spent decades with no underwater experience struggle with just getting their faces wet. Even then, many who have no fear of the water struggle with the rhythm of breathing.
If you're comfortable getting your face underwater, learn how to do bobs. Go up and down underwater in a rhythm of 2-3 seconds underwater blowing gentle bubbles, and half of a second for your breath in. The most important part is not spending any time blowing out air while above water, or waiting for the water to clear from your lips. You have to inhale immediately when you come up. It helps if you blow a quick blast of air right at the end of your steady stream of underwater bubbles to make sure you are emptying your lungs.
Next is posture. Proper posture makes you float and be able to move across the top of the water with no effort, and improper posture makes you sink and work harder. Our coaches use the cues "straight, strong spine" and "squeeze your gut, squeeze your butt" to keep our swimmers in good posture. But the most important part of posture would be head position. It's the most difficult, and the most counterintuitive. Your eyes want to look forward when you are face down to see where you are going, and at your toes when you are on your back. These push your hips and toes down, the start of a fast sink to the bottom. Counteract this by focusing on tucking your chin when on your front and thrusting your chin when on your back.
Lastly is kick. Focus on keeping the toes pointed, yet the ankles relaxed and supple. "Ballerina toes." Kick from the hips, never the knees! Your hip flexors, glutes, and abdominal muscles should be doing the bulk of the work, not your quads. You legs stay straight, however, just like your feet, your legs need to stay flexible, so the knees on your straight legs stay loose and not locked. The entire kick works like a wave, or a whip that starts at your hips and cracks out your toes. Kicks should be small and narrow, but very high tempoed.
If you can do these three things, you can swim. The arms make you faster, but are not nearly important as people think. Any swim instructor can teach the arms very easily to any student who can breath, hold posture, and kick, so long as they can reach their arms straight above their head.
You can do it!
Never too late, it'll feel so good to accomplish something you've always wanted to.
My mom learned at 70!
definitely not to late! Go at it at a pace that’s comfortable for you, starting with breathing and floating!
I learned at 40.
It's NEVER to Late to LEARN❗️ As long as you are physically able to workout and you Want To Learn You Absolutely Can LEARN 💯‼️
I grew up at the beach and never learned to swim because not-drowning was good enough. As an adult, I went through phases of being swim-curious but honestly suck at sucking and did so many other sports that never pursued it.
FFWD to last summer: I’m now 50 and a catastrophic knee injury abruptly ends my 30 year love of running. And pretty much any activity involving legs. Enter: swimming. Lessons. The whole thing. Oh, and just with my arms because of the knee situation.
It was humbling to be soooo comfortable in the water, yet suck so bad at actually swimming in it. But like anything else, the suck lessened with time and practice. I’ve been swimming 2-3 times a week since starting (still just with my arms) and it no longer sucks.
I no longer suck.
If I can learn at 50, without using legs, you definitely can at 40 with your whole self :)
No. I learned at 46!
Never too late. I learned at 43, such a fun activity too
I started lessons a month ago. I'm 42.
Go for it! You can do it - I'm really enjoying myself and glad I decided to take the literal plunge.
I joined a local swim school that does small group lessons based on skills and abilities. My normal group is 2, but sometimes fluctuates to 4 max. Social learning has been helpful because I can learn when the instructor corrects another student as well.
Nope. I have taught folks 60 and beyond how to swim.
Not even close; I'm an instructor and i'm currently teaching a 54 yr old who almost drowned two years ago
Nahhhh it's never too late!! My husband and kids are swimmers and me? I just know how to be self sufficient enough to swim back and forth and float haha But now I want to be a lifeguard so I'm having my kids and husband teach me how to swim properly lol honestly it's easier to learn at a more mature age cause you can pick it up really quick.
I don’t see why it would be too late.
Definitely not too late. Find a class for adult beginners/improvers and you will most likely find others similar to yourself. Swimming isn't in itself that difficult once you learn the basics, but it will take time to learn to swim well (as I'm discovering myself!). Enjoy the journey.
Never too late! Get in!!!
Not at all. If you put your mind to it, it’s very much doable.
I started Jan 2022, and completed an Ironman 70.3 in June 2022. Went from swimming 0 yards to 2112 yards (1.2 miles). Was a marathoner so the bike and run part wasn’t a big deal. Swimming was a huge accomplishment for me!
Good luck!! You got this!
Nope! Not at all.
Not at all, I've taught someone in their 70's how to swim. I suggest calling you local YMCA and talk to their aquatic director and explain your situation. IF they have older instructors try to get one of them -more experience and more empathy. I'm a big fan of joining a swim team once you can swim a couple of lengths for a few reasons, it's social and fun and most importantly it's scheduled time in the water. Once you get over the initial fear it's all about repetition, just coming to the pool every day playing in the water, swimming back and forth and becoming comfortable in the water.
No
No dear sir. It's never late
No, plus swimming is probably one of the better exercises for older people. It will be easier to learn now than in 20 years.
Technique is especially important if you are out of shape. An efficient stroke will make swimming more enjoyable & comfortable on underdeveloped muscles.
Yep, way too late. Creeping everyday towards your tomb. Might want to just kick back and let the immortal rest take you over!
Jk, of course not. Always learn stuff!
Nope, I started at 40! 2 years down the line, I can do about 2K in about 50 mins and I don't have a sporty bone on my body
My sister just started at 45 - never too late! I swim daily and can’t imagine my life without it. Super brave of you to try a new thing - enjoy the process and be patient with yourself as you go along. Being able to swim is such a gift.
It's common knowledge that your water hole opens at age 42, rendering all water activity impossible for fear of over saturation of your squeenter. So I'm not going to say it's tooooo late, but I'd savor your last two years as much as possible.
It’s never too late to learning anything let alone swimming 🏊.
Started at 49, it's awesome!
No. And it's good to know how to swim. Look into adult learn-to-swim programs with your local town recreation department, local schools, especially your local colleges. They are out there. Lots of people never swam when they were younger, or hated it.
I am 36 and just about getting started . It might take some time but it’s about the practice
N-O N-O-P-E N-O (in Spanish) N-Y-E-T
I learned how to swim at age 47 with extreme water fear and a near drowning under my belt. I am 49 now…
Don’t do it, you melt in pool water as soon as you turn 40. At midnight, don’t do it at midnight
I was a swim instructor and swim coach at all levels, including teaching adults to swim! Most swim lesson places, public or private, should be able to accommodate. Oldest I taught was 65 and the youngest was 2, it’s NEVER too late to learn. Like a few have said, it can be frustrating, and you can get in your head about it. Just stay consistent with the teachings, there are very simple, low skill required techniques to enjoy the water and to prove to yourself you can be comfortable in it. You got this!
Your too old to not learn! Go for it.
Join some adult learn-to-swim classes! I learned how to swim properly this past September and I’m very happy with taking the plunge so to speak. The swimming is really good for my joints and I had people in my swim class who are in their 40s-60s. The endurance to swim a whole lap is hard at the beginning, but that’s for all ages not just because you’re older. Gotta keep swimming to get better. Good luck!
No! I was chatting to someone a year or so ago who'd bumped into her swimming teacher at the pool - the lady had learned to swim with this teacher 18 yrs ago when she was 55, and was still swimming to this day.
Go for it. Fun and could save your life from Also could save someone else’s life. You are younger than a lot of swimmers. It’s something you can do well into older ages. Easy on your joints.
I leaned at 42. I got private lessons from someone about my age. It was awesome. I did a few open water swims as part of sprint triathlons. I’m still terrified of water but not as much.
no
You were born with the instinct to swim, so get in the water and just keep swimming just keep swimming just keep swimming swimming swimming
Many community centers offer swim lessons of all levels and ages. They wouldn’t offer them if people weren’t interested. If you want to learn, sign up, and do it! It can be so relaxing and good for your body.
I did just that so yeah! I swim laps couple days a week now before 40 couldn't even tread water.
No. The only time its too late is when you are dead. My grandparents learnt in their 60s.
Definitely not too old to learn to swim! It’s a great sport and a great way to keep fit. Find a local pool, have a few lessons and go for it!
I'm 46 and learning right now. I never really had the opportunity before, but I always wanted to. I don't think it's ever too late.
My wife finally learned at age 60 last year
You are still young! It will be one of the best things you ever did. Always told my adult students, three things that you should know in life: 1) know how to swim 2) know how to drive a stick shift 3) know how to do basic algebra.
Leaned at 85. Couldnt do dry land or gym anymore water aerobics is also good but I wanted a bigger challenge my swim instructor daughter came down for a visit and i asked if she could teach me I can dogpaddle and Iam comfortable in the water but hated to get my face wet well she started with breathing Freestyle breathing realizing that I had to do this i conquered my dislike and now do a decent free and back working on fly breast is hard because of artificial hip joints writing this from cardio floor my new love for swimming revealed a serious heart issue hopefully it is repaired doctors assured me I will be better than ever can’t wait
joined masters swimming and hope to eventually compete so go for it
H
No, i am almost 40 and I barely swim until this year.
I found swimming is really interesting to learn especially for not-so-young people, because the more you master the technique, the less effort you need to give to swim. So its on technical side, not on stamina side.
Learned at 58. Up to 2500 weekdays and 2000 on the weekend. I’m not fast or even all that good, but I love the daily exercise. Get a private instructor if you can; it helped me with efficiency.
- Taking lessons now. So much fun learning something new. Go for it.
I went from an alcoholic 43 year old who didn't know how to swim to an Ironman in 10 months. Almost never too late.
You can learn how to do anything as long as you have your health and mobility
It is not too late! I am learning at 33 years old; it is important not to give up and make time for it, put effort. You've got this! I have started half a year ago and I am very proud of myself. Just start :)
Have been in water for many years but never strong at official swimming strokes. At 72, took some one on one lessons at the local Y. Felt much more confident with a few lessons on the freestyle and backstroke.
Now I just need to get into a good habit of getting there and practicing!
It is never too late!!