James: I swam 30 metres and finished strong
November 20, 2009
Royson James
Yesterday I swam the length of a swimming pool – and it was a wonderfully ugly sight to behold.
Nine classes after I started this summer – on a dare from my editor Dave Beer as part of Taking the Plunge, a Star initiative to teach city kids to swim – I went wall to wall in awkward triumph.
Don't take my word for it. The Star's cameras bore witness and you can view it at right. Soon it will be going viral as followers around the world click in to watch the exploits of the guy from Jamaica, the land of wood and water, who now lives on the shores of Lake Ontario – but couldn't swim.
If only my long-gone dad could see me now, posing with my Red Cross badge – Swim Kids level 2.
The childhood fears, likely sparked by witnessing a drowning on a church picnic in Negril, have been conquered.
Also conquered is a challenge from the writer of the following email, received June 2, after that first column declaring my intent to learn to swim. The email is signed, "Just a friendly racist ... I am so-called Whitey." It was entitled, "Forget it." And as you can imagine, I couldn't quite put it out of my mind.
"White guys can't jump ... Tough guys don't dance ... Black guys don't swim," the email read.
I wasn't offended. I'm used to getting emails from more than a few morons. And frankly, this dude was in the distinct minority among the steady stream of email cheering me on from Napanee to New Mexico. But I was motivated.
"In 1987 I had a Chinese boss, a young engineer ... (Mr.) Lee," the reader continued. "He explained to me that, quote, 'Brothers have very high bone density and consequently heavier bones than you and me. That's why they are boxing champions and not swimming champions,' unquote.
"As for you? You look like bony skinny bugger and I think there is no hope for you," the reader wrote.
I knew then, back in June, that I would not fail, could not fail; that I'd finally learn how to swim, at least across the pool, if not in Lake Ontario.
Little did I know it would be so difficult and exciting at the same time. It's exhausting work. My instructor, Anita, put me through hell for an hour at a time, a one-on-one torture chamber. Through it all, what kept me afloat, coming back for more, was the knowledge that so many of you were pulling, wishing, praying for me to learn to swim.
More importantly, many of you fellow non-swimmers said you'd give it a try if I succeeded. Talk about pressure. The clincher, though, were the letters from seniors, some of whom started swimming at age 60 and 70.
"If an old lady, now age 80, can do it, you can too!" wrote Elizabeth Butler from Napanee, Ont.
I barely made the one length of the 30-metre pool at Dafna's Swim Centre, Elizabeth. But all that means is I'm now encouraged to keep pushing to do more.
Yesterday was my D-day. At noon, I gathered the swim trunks and goggles, oiled down the embarrassingly skinny frame, packed the towel and stuff and started psyching myself for the test.
I had never completed a full length before. Wracked by the flu all week, I'm not at full strength. So, I go to YouTube for inspiration and watched the Nick Vujicic story – that of a man born without arms or legs who looks you in the eye and says, "I love living life. I am happy. If I fail, I try again and again. Are you gonna finish strong?"
And so, with Star video cameras rolling, I pushed aside doubts and fears.
"Finish strong," the voice hammered away as I stalled at the half-way mark. "Finish strong," as I took in water a few strokes from the end. "Finish strong."
Not only did I complete a length, I also did it backwards, with that glide and kick. And made a transition from front crawl to back glide.
"To cut the B.S., do me a favour. Find out if what my old buddy (Mr.) Lee was saying is a myth?" my reader had challenged.
Happy to report: another myth exploded. And all across Ontario non-swimmers of all races rejoice.
So, in recognition that a year ago I was in Selma, Alabama, to witness the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States, pardon me if I borrow the now well-worn phrase, Yes We Can.
Royson James usually appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Email: rjames@thestar.ca
More stories:
At age 56, writer decides it's time to take the plunge
The Star's Taking the Plunge series
Toronto Star