I don’t have a story to tell. My father was a great solitary swimmer, not a competitive one. In the summer of 2024, already very frail, I still took him three times to Duquesa beach, and he swam a little; the water was very cold, but it didn’t seem to affect him. He passed away in June of last year, at the age of 99.
It was after he passed away that I noticed the Swim4Fun school. I spoke with a lady as she was coming out of the water—so enthusiastic and inspiring—that she left me thinking, “Why not?”.
And I started at the end of September. Since then, I’ve been feeling cold and somewhat lacking the courage to start again, but I’ll go soon. When I see the photos, I really regret not having gone. I actually think the hardest part is putting on the wetsuit.
My father swimming at the beach at 97 years old
Maria Mascarenha