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2 years ago, he couldn't swim. Now he's like a fish in water.
By Linda Ebbing, Staff Writer
HAMILTON — Two years ago, Mike Day, 53, couldn't swim and his wife, Pam, 51, was not a strong swimmer. These days the couple volunteer their time each week to teach children of all ages how to swim.
"I took an adult swimming class at the YMCA and saw what I was missing all these years," Mike Day said. "Now I just want to pass it on."
He and his wife are passing it on working hand-in-hand with the YMCA, which this year is celebrating 100 years of teaching Americans how to swim.
"Swimming lessons provide children with essential skills to be safe in and around the water," said Jenny Schulz, program director. "In addition to building character and self confidence, children learn about leadership, safety and rescue skills and water activities."
In 1906, George Corsan, a Detroit YMCA fitness instructor, radically changed the way people learned to swim by using group teaching methods, teaching students strokes outside the pool first and beginning instruction with the front crawl. YMCAs went on to
offer lifeguard training, competitive swimming, diving, water aerobics, synchronized swimming, parent-infant classes, scuba, aquatic activities for
people with disabilities, arthri-tis aquatics, water polo and more.
Hamilton resident Diann Bowling started bringing her grandson, Matthew, to the YMCA for swim lessons last year.
"He loves the water and I wanted him to be safe in the water," Bowling said. "He's doing well ... they got him in the deep-end and they are teaching him how to stay afloat."
Matthew will tell you he is not afraid. As a matter of fact, his favorite part of the lesson is diving off the board.
Big arms, big legs, face in, reach and pull, Day tells his students.
"So many kids are interested in the water and don't know how to swim," he said. "Teaching children how to swim is very important. Too many kids each year are drowning and if we can save one life that's a good thing."
For more information about lessons, call the Fitton Family YMCA at 868-9622.
C
o
ntact this reporter at (513) 820-2158 or lebbing@coxohio.com.
