My story as an open water swimmer

Hello! I am Carlos, a 55-year-old Peruvian very happy to share my story as an open-water swimmer with the Swim4Fun community.

Although I learned how to swim when I was 4 years old, I never practiced swimming as a sport until recently. When my parents realized I could swim at least to survive if falling into the water anytime, the swimming lessons of my childhood were over.

Swimming was not part of my life but sports like hiking, climbing, skydiving, soccer, and running were. I loved running and started seriously when I was a teenager. I ran for more than 30 years of my life completing several marathons and ultramarathons. Running was my lifestyle.

When I turned 51 I was diagnosed with a neurological disease that affected my nervous system and muscles from my waist down to my legs and feet. Very soon after that, my running days were over. The doctors told me there was no effective medical treatment for me and one of them told me I could try swimming in the sea because the salty water and the low temperature of the sea can help to keep my nervous system and leg muscles stimulated and activated to slow down the progress of the disease. I doubted following the doctor’s indication because I was afraid at the idea of swimming beyond the waves but finally, one day in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were released, I decided to give swimming in the sea a try… and it was terrible. I couldn’t swim more than a couple of strokes without feeling I was going to be drawn or all the animals of the ocean were going to attack me. My fears and anxiety were too much for me to handle and that was the moment I discovered something that was the key that opened the door of swimming in the sea for me: breathing.

When I learned how to use my breath properly and efficiently, that was the moment my swimming in the sea took off. Months later I could swim my first kilometer and was the happiest man on Earth. I realized my legs were feeling better since I started swimming in the sea and felt encouraged to continue swimming more and more. Six months later I could swim two kilometers and a friend persuaded me to join my first swimming race ever. I was 52 years old and took part in an open waters swimming competition of 4 kilometers. I was in doubt thinking 4 kilometers could be too much but, to my surprise, I swam the 4 kilometers nonstop, and not only that: I won the first place of my category unexpectedly. I had discovered I was not that bad at swimming no matter of having started like 40 years late!

Besides the matter of competing sometimes, I was more interested in checking what the contact with the sea was causing to my overall health and the benefits were amazing. Some doctors had told me before that in one year or so I was about to start my life in a wheelchair because my legs were going to deteriorate fast. However, there I was one year after, alive and kicking, swimming in the sea and increasing the distance reaching 10 kilometers a couple of times and dreaming to go beyond that. I am not of the fast swimmers, but for sure I am of those that can endure a lot and I enjoy that amazing feeling that doing long distance swims in the sea causes.

I feel grateful for all that happened to me since I started swimming in the sea four years ago in Peru and for the chance I have here in Portugal with Swim4fun to continue. Every day counts and is a gift, and if you can celebrate the gift of life swimming in the sea and find others that celebrate life the same way, you will have unforgettable experiences and will make unforgettable friendships too.

Thank you!

Carlos Campos