Swimming: a fitness all- rounder

“I knew then that at the least, I wanted to be water safe and would like to have the basic knowledge of navigating my way in the water,” says Dintwe. She came across Propellers, and ended up going into a partnership with them. The idea was that while she was learning how to swim, she was also showcasing swimming as a sport of choice.

And so in December 2020, she decided that the time was right to go into the water. Her first days in the pool were not easy, she says. It was a break through for her as even with shaking and fear, she managed to go into the water.

“I was panicking, and even when the coach was teaching me how to float, I could not trust that I could float on my own.

I would hold on to the coach and I was afraid. But slowly and surely over time, I started getting comfortable,” she notes, adding that the journey was made easier by the fact that the coaches know the psychology of the human being, especially when it comes to water phobia. They took her through therapy, and got her more comfortable with water.

“They made me understand that water is a friend and not an enemy. And I quickly got comfortable because of how great the coach was, and the psychological element,” explains Dintwe.

The highlight of her journey is realising that it is possible for her to move in water. Up until she was 37 years, she did not know how to move in water. She has learnt a new skill, and she has conquered her fear, and is learning new techniques and is able to swim with so much skill and confidence.

“I am beyond just being comfortable in the pool. I am now using swimming as a fitness regime. It is my fitness regime of choice,” says Dintwe adding that with swimming she found a home, and she is losing weight and toning and as well as building endurance.

“The exciting thing is thinking that I can literally just be 60 years and still swim. My Mother just learnt swimming at 64 years, of course I inspired her,” she highlights.

Her words of encouragement to those who might be dealing with water phobia, and those who are yet to venture into the pool is that at the bare minimum, people interact with water, consciously or unconsciously. While Botswana might not have seas, the country has recorded drowning incidents in rivers and pools at home and in public spaces.

She wants them to learn how to be water safe. Secondly, while some people are not big on going to the gym, the pool is the best alternative for them, and the fact that swimming works on almost every muscle of the body is a bonus. “Swimming increases your lung capacity, and it is fun. It is a fitness option and a lifestyle for everyone regardless of age. It is possible for you just as it was possible for me to get over my water phobia,” she excitedly says.