From ‘Absolute Zero’ to Masters Swim Meets: Y Member Learns to Swim and Compete as an Adult
Chelsea Lovejoy, 33, started Y swim lessons in October 2021 for the first time in her life.
She had not been taught to swim as a child, despite growing up near the water in San Diego.
“I was terrified of the water,” she says. “I had a lot of shame not knowing how to swim as an adult.”
Her first lessons with Chloe, a Y swim instructor for 6 years, were slow: learning how to put her face in the water, blowing bubbles, and floating.
“We had to start from absolute zero,” Chelsea says. “I had never even tried to swim before.”
Chelsea’s confidence grew every week as she mastered skills and continued to hear Chloe’s encouragement and support.
“As a child, I missed out on a lot of the play that helps kids build confidence in the water,” she says. “Chloe made sure there was an element of play and laughter.”
At the beginning of a lesson or before a challenge, Chelsea and Chloe would stand in the shallow end of the pool and sing a catchy song that popped up on Chelsea’s self-curated playlist.
“Sometimes, teaching adults can be harder because they have been fearful of the water for decades,” Chloe says. “It helps break the ice if I can connect with them and help them find joy in the water.”
That technique helped balance the challenging elements: the first time Chloe asked Chelsea to let go of the floating pool noodle, push off the wall in a streamlined position, and practice diving.
“Even though I was a gymnast and had good body awareness and position, it was scary to dive in headfirst,” Chelsea recalls. “I made it a point to practice diving at the end of every practice. First, from sitting on the edge, then kneeling, then standing on the side, and then, finally, off the starting blocks!”
Chloe taught Chelsea every stroke. After 9 months of swim lessons, Chelsea joined the masters (adult) swim team through Team Eugene Aquatics.
“Once I could swim all the strokes, I asked myself what is the next step? I was trying to decide if I should pursue swimming as a sport or lap swim on my own,” Chelsea says. “What sealed the deal was that Team Eugene started a masters swim team practice at the Y. The Y is home for me. I feel comfortable here. It’s where I learned to swim!”
Chelsea, forever pushing her limits, signed up for her first swim meet two months later! “Chelsea is willing to try everything,” Chloe says. “By the end, she knew all the strokes and I just wanted her to build stamina. I would give her sets and I would swim in the lane next to her.”
Chelsea is signed up for the Y’s 100-Mile Aqua Challenge to swim 100 miles this year. Chloe and the Y team will be cheering her on!
