Is there such a thing as a person who can't swim?

Question

I'm taking a beginner's swim course in college. We had our first class today and one of our tasks was to grab onto a flotation device while kicking our way to the other side. Everyone could do it correctly the first time around, except for me, who continued to flounder even after trying it multiple times. I don't know what I'm doing wrong or how everyone else seems to pick it up so easily. My friends in the past have tried to teach me how to swim, to no avail, but I was hoping that a qualified instructor would change things. Guess not. But this is pretty humiliating and if there's any way to change this (either by actually fixing my technique or whatever or by somehow proving that I really cannot swim and thus can't take this course), I would really like to.

Quick modification: Sorry, I meant to say "such a thing as a person who can't LEARN how to swim". Obviously there are lots of people who can't. :P

I'm taking a beginner's swim course in college. We had our first class today and one of our tasks was to grab onto a flotation device while kicking our way to the other side. Everyone could do it correctly the first time around, except for me, who continued to flounder even after trying it multiple times. I don't know what I'm doing wrong or how everyone else seems to pick it up so easily. My friends in the past have tried to teach me how to swim, to no avail, but I was hoping that a qualified instructor would change things. Guess not. But this is pretty humiliating and if there's any way to change this (either by actually fixing my technique or whatever or by somehow proving that I really cannot swim and thus can't take this course), I would really like to.

Answer 1

I can't swim either. Somehow I got through that same beginner's swim course in college, I really don't know how I did it.

Answer 2

First of all, you need to relax and quit worrying about drowning. The instructor won't let that happen. Realize that water is just another medium, thicker than air but less dense than earth. You need to use that "thickness" to your advantage. Your hands are like the propeller of a boat or airplane. They push against the water in the opposite direction of travel.

The kicking motion begins at the hips and is amplified a small bit through the knees. Do not try to kick from the knees. Also, don't kick so high that you get too much air (bubbles) in your kick. But also, don't kick entirely underwater. There are many swimming organizations with helpful info on the Web. Doing a search will give lots of info.

Answer 3

Keep floundering away and all of the sudden you will realize you have it. Nothing is better than swimming and enjoying the water. Try keep a bit more air in your lungs and then breathe over the extra, it will keep you more afloat and higher in the water. Try not to ponder why you aren't doing what everyone else is doing and just try to relax and enjoy, not prove anything. If you are last, so what? When you start enjoying it, it will come easier-just like anything else. Much success. . .

Answer 4

most people that say they cant swim simply wont swim because they dont want to, or they are afraid. some people though might have an actual disablity to keep them from swimming.

think diseases like muscle distrophy, or some neurological conditions causing spasms. most physical or malformation disablities usually fade away and liberate the person from a wheelchair when swimming.

Answer 5

keep trying, you will learn eventually. it's like how do people learn how to run? they just hit the pavement or the treadmill or the trail, put one foot in front of the other and just go. same with swimming, just in the water. you'll figure it out. after that, you can start to improve your technique.

Answer 6

Im 60 and I can`t swim

Answer 7

I can't swim. Im 23 now,yet i don'tknow how to swim. And I don't intend to learn how to swim either..

Answer 8

I cannot float so swimming is alot of work for me