How to help a friend get comfortable in the water

RE: How to help a friend get comfortable in the water

Former Member — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:07:32 GMT

I have a friend who lost half his right arm, lost three fingers on his left hand and his right foot in a hydeo electric accident. He was very upset with this as he was a training partner of mine when I was training for marathon races. When he was scarred over and healed enough to get in the water I continued to do my workous with him. He was pretty slow at first but became very proficient as time went on. He was able to get his time down to swim a 24 minute mile.

RE: How to help a friend get comfortable in the water

Speedo — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:37:43 GMT

I don't know the girl, but there is an age group swimmer that is missing her forearm and hand- she's about 16 and I'm always amazed that she keeps up. I'm even more amazed that she can put her swedish goggles on! So although I can't give you advice like some others, I can tell you that it is possible and can be learned. Good luck!

RE: How to help a friend get comfortable in the water

Former Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:13:20 GMT

Thanks - that's helpful. You mentioned the paralympics, which brought me to this video. Amazing stuff.

RE: How to help a friend get comfortable in the water

norascats — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 11:18:02 GMT

Sidestroke. She can use her good arm to stroke. The stroke should be horizontal and the short arm can be held at her side. This is the old lifeguard stroke. It is quite powerful.

RE: How to help a friend get comfortable in the water

ourswimmer — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:55:17 GMT

My niece also has one arm that ends just below the elbow. I took her to swimming lessons while she lived with me a few years ago and she learned to swim. Learning rotary breathing was hard because her natural inclination was to breathe to the long-arm side, but then she'd just stop because the pull from her short arm was not very powerful. Breathing to the short-arm side worked better. She liked kicking, either on her front resting her elbows on a kickboard or lying on the long-arm side with her arm over her head and her short arm down against her torso. I've seen photos of athletes with similar arms swimming in the Paralympic games too.