Printer-friendly versionSend to friend

John was 54 when he learned to swim ending years of social awkwardness 

Ever since he was a child, “John” has always loved the water. Throughout his life he has enjoyed boating up and down the water ways of East Tennessee. Each time John takes his boat out on the water, he is careful to always remember his life jacket. In fact, he always wears one while he is boating and never removes it until he is safely back on shore. While he admits he finds boating to be relaxing, he is fully aware of the dangers of the water.

    John’s fondness of boating seems like an odd pastime considering he never learned to swim. While he finds comfort in the confines of his boat, he is surrounded by a body of water that could quickly end his life should he fall overboard. John’s inability to swim has put the local businessman in what can best be described as awkward social situations.

   “I sometimes take friends out on the boat and they often dive in to take a dip,” said John. “But I stay on the boat and watch them have fun. If we were close to shore I might wade into the shallow water. I wouldn’t get in the deep water even with a life jacket on because I just didn’t feel comfortable. It was embarrassing.”

    John never had anyone to teach him the art of swimming as a child. His siblings tried but lacked patience with the awkward adolescent. His frustration mounted, he never learned to swim, and a fear of the water soon developed.

    At the unlikely age of 54, John decided it was time to conquer his fears. A friend suggested he call Ed Pemberton, the owner of Adventureswim.com. Pemberton holds a Masters Degree from the University of Kentucky specializing in Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine. He pursued Doctoral work at the University of Iowa in Mechanical Analysis of Motion (human motion in water). Pemberton is a certified teacher at Farragut Middle School where he has served as the main instructor in all classes for 13 years. As a professional teacher, he teaches more than 1,500 children, babies and adults each year. Most students return for advanced lessons and frequently refer their friends.

    Over the course of a career that has spanned 30 years, Pemberton has taught more than 30,000 babies, children and adults to swim and certified more than 5,000 SCUBA divers. Some of his former students have grown up to adulthood, married and had children of their own. These same former students are now bringing their children to “Mr. Ed” to learn to swim.

    John admits that at first he was reluctant to seek Pemberton’s instruction. He was concerned he would be the oldest student in the class and concerned he had waited too late in life to learn to swim.

    To assuage John’s concerns, Pemberton has him attend private lessons where he can instruct him on a one-to-one basis. Pemberton reassures the reluctant businessman that he is not by any means his oldest pupil. That distinction belongs to two elderly sisters. Both were great-grandmothers and learned to swim at the advanced ages of 84 and 86. They succeeded in learning to swim and in proving the old adage that “You are never too old.” Their success was an inspiration for their families.

    In a period of two weeks John took four classes in which Pemberton instructed him on the dynamics of swimming.  He learned breath holding exercises, the breast stoke, under water swimming and diving from a diving board and swimming the length of the pool.  After four classes that collectively spanned about four hours, John emerged as a capable swimmer that had conquered his fears. He admits he still has a lot to learn but, with practice his skills will improve.

   “I am much more comfortable on the water now,” said John. “I can swim under water better than above water. I still keep a life jacket near by when I am on the water but I don’t need it to swim. I would recommend Mr. Ed’s class to anyone. If that guy can’t teach you to swim then you can’t be taught.”