After being diagnosed with COPD and facing the reality of severe breathing difficulties, Rebecca, 43, took an extraordinary step to regain control of her life; she turned to swimming. What she started in order to strengthen her respiratory muscles has evolved into a newfound passion that not only transformed her health but led her to retrain as a swimming teacher. Now Rebecca is eager to share the life-changing benefits of the sport with others.
Rebecca, a pharmacy technician who lives in Suffolk, explains:
“In 2022 I was diagnosed with the progressive disease COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). It was very scary, as my symptoms included being incredibly short of breath and fatigue. I was told my ‘lung age’ was that of a 74-year-old woman!
“My doctor told me that, although I couldn’t cure my illness, exercise would help improve my condition, as physical activity would strengthen my respiratory muscles, making it easier to breathe over time.
“So I decided to try exercise to take control of my health. I first tried running, but I didn’t enjoy it, so I thought swimming might be a better fit for me. I joined a local leisure centre and started to lane swim. To begin with just four lengths would leave me completely out of breath, but as I started to go more often I saw both the distance I could swim and my breathing improving.
“I was swimming three to four times a week, but I wanted to improve my swimming style and perform the correct techniques for each stroke, as I was still avoiding putting my face in the water, so I watched online tutorials and my swimming improved a lot. The best part was how much I began to enjoy being in the pool. Swimming gives me a mental and emotional break; a chance to switch off. It’s been fantastic for my overall wellbeing.
“I now swim three times a week, and regularly open water swim at Lynford Lake in all weathers. I take part in three-to-five-kilometre competitive races, which I never thought would be achievable with my lung condition, and people say they wouldn’t have known I have COPD. I really love swimming out in nature, it’s my happy place. It’s amazing not to feel restricted to the up and down of pool swimming.
“Swimming has helped transform my health, and I’m so proud of how far I have come. I really believe it’s one of the best forms of exercise anyone can do, so I was keen to share my love of the sport and encourage and teach others to swim.”
Rebecca undertook her Level 1 Swimming Teacher Assistant training in February 2023 and completed her Level 2 Swimming Teacher qualification in June this year.
Rebecca says:
“I’m thrilled to now be fully qualified. I’ve been working as a swimming teaching assistant at my local pool on Tuesday evenings and Sunday afternoons and now hope to start leading my own lessons. I really enjoy teaching; it’s such a refreshing change from my day job as a pharmacy technician at a GP surgery! Ultimately, I plan to take my open water coaching CPD with the Institute of Swimming as well, and lead sessions outside too.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to share such an essential life skill with others. Swimming gave me my life back, and now I want to give back to the sport.”