Behind the photo: Swimming healed my broken heart
When Victoria Whitworth, 50, was at her lowest ebb, she found a wild way to feel free
To look at this photo of me posing in my swimsuit in the water, a big grin on my face, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s just a happy holiday snap. But the truth is, come rain or shine, I’m always in the water.
When my husband Ben and I moved to the rugged island of Orkney, off the coast of Scotland, with our daughter Stella, then one, in July 2008, I finally felt at home. After growing up in Kenya before settling in England, I liked being surrounded by vast wilderness once again.
Shooting pains
Only, I was suffering an emotional battle. My mum had recently passed away from motor neurone disease and it had been heartbreaking seeing her suffer. I was consumed with anger, grief and confusion. That, paired with being a new mum, meant I found myself struggling.
I’d put on weight too, and despite having a good job as a lecturer, I felt so unconfident. I was also suffering with shooting pains in my feet. Worried, I went to see my GP and was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis – inflammation in the tissue of my foot.
He advised that a low-impact exercise like swimming could ease the pain, so I started going to my local pool. As I glided through the water, I found that swimming not only stopped my foot hurting but also eased my troubled mind. Being in the water was so calming and energising.
But then I was dealt a further blow. In 2011, I lost my father to old age. I realised I needed to swim more than ever to help me through my grief.
Only, it was at this time my local leisure centre announced it was closing. I burst into tears on hearing the news. What was I going to do?
My friend Helen, who often came swimming with me, had the answer. ‘Why don’t we swim in the sea?’ she said. I stared at her in disbelief. ‘It’ll be freezing!’ came my knee-jerk reaction.
But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. After all, Orkney was blessed with miles of stunning coastline. So that weekend, Helen and I went to the beach with a few friends.
Without hesitation, they ran into the sea, screeching as they plunged into the cold waves. ‘They’re mad,’ I thought as I sat on the rocks. But then I saw their grins, and I knew I’d have to join them next time.
So the following Saturday, we met for a swim. The water was calm but cold – about 15°C. But after the initial shock, I loved the thrill of cold water.
An overwhelming sense of calm washed over me as I swam a few strokes – feeling the lull of the waves and the gentle currents. And as I made my way back on to dry land to a flask of hot tea, I felt exhilarated.
Positive feeling
After that, my friends and I headed into the water every Saturday morning. And always, I’d come home on a high, feeling positive and strong, and I even ended up losing weight. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I began swimming daily, even in the winter.
Sadly, Ben and I separated last year. But being able to take off in the water helped me come to terms with my marriage breakdown, too.
Now, I can’t live without swimming – it’s become such an important part of my life, I’ve even written a book about it. And wherever I go, I always pack a swimsuit – just in case I spot a place where I can dive in and feel free.
Swimming With Seals by Victoria Whitworth (£14.99, Head of Zeus)
‘Being in the water was so calming and energising’