I spent yet more hours of my life at the leisure centre yesterday. On a Saturday afternoon, when I could have been outside in the glorious sunshine. Only the hardcore were there – about 15 members of the swimming club and a few brave adults, plus of course the parents, all watching our children take part in Swimathon 2011.
Big was in a team of five, so each of them did 40 lengths or 1km of their team target. She was fifth, which mean there were precious few other children left in the pool when she got in. It didn’t seem to bother her – she set to and ploughed up and down, and was greeted with a round of applause as she got out 26 minutes later.
This is a child who couldn’t swim two years ago. And now she thinks nothing of dashing off a quick km for charity. In a few weeks time she’ll be doing her Gold challenge and then her mile (64 lengths in 45 minutes) and then she’ll have finished the syllabus as far as the swimming lessons are concerned.
I am quite incredibly proud of her. I was wiping away tears when she climbed out of the pool, and I hugged her even though she was wet. I’ve bragged on twitter and fb, and I’m bragging here – and if anyone wants to sponsor her, the link is this one: Swimathon 2011
Thank you.
Leave a Reply