Learning to Tri as an adult: Swimming - Nahida and Laura's stories

The first of our "Learning to Tri as an adult" series - and first up we have two inspiring stories from Nahida and Laura who learnt to swim as adults.

Nahida's Journey: Learning to Swim as an Adult and Embracing the Triathlon Sprint

Growing up in a Pakistani household, Nahida missed out on learning to swim due to cultural barriers limiting the kinds of opportunities she was able to take up. While she excelled at team sports, swimming was never an option. It wasn’t until adulthood—after watching her children and others around her learn—that she took the plunge and signed up for women-only swimming lessons at her local leisure centre.

After three years on a waiting list, she got a place in the pool, embracing the challenge with determination. Starting with just blowing bubbles and learning to put her face in the water, Nahida progressed quickly, eventually swimming a full length. While the lessons didn’t cover deep water skills like treading water or breaststroke, they were a huge turning point for her.

After recovering from surgery and taking a break, she returned to the water with a new goal: completing a triathlon. Last year, she took part in the Black Tri Tribe Special, swimming 100m, cycling 5k, and walking 1k. While it felt short for her abilities, it sparked a new passion.

Her next challenge? Open water swimming. Signing up for a lake induction, she was shocked to find there was no shallow end and panic set in. Though she couldn’t complete the swim, the experience didn’t deter her. Instead, it pushed her to seek help, invest in a wetsuit, and start training to overcome her fear of deep water.

Nahida now watches videos, searches for coaching tips, and draws strength from her cycling community and the Women in Triathlon group. She’s motivated not just by fitness, but by the desire to enjoy the natural world and conquer a new and important life skill.

“I never thought of myself as an athlete,” she says. “But I can cycle, I can run, and I’m learning to swim, so maybe I am one.”

Her message is simple and powerful: “You’re never too old to learn. Life’s too short to hold yourself back. Do it at your pace, and trust the process.”

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Laura's Story: From Holiday Swimmer to Ironman Finisher

Laura had earned her 800m swimming badge as a child, but as an adult, swimming had mostly been about cooling off on holiday. So when she signed up for her first super-sprint triathlon, she swam the 400m using breaststroke, wearing a wetsuit for the very first time. She felt self-conscious, worried people would judge her for not swimming front crawl.

But she didn't let that stop her. Her next goal? An Ironman.

Realising she had to learn to swim properly, Laura joined adult swimming lessons. Though she was already a strong runner and cyclist, she felt like an imposter in the pool. "I could thrash my way to the middle, then had to stop to breathe!". But her swim coaches broke things down in manageable steps, helping her slowly build technique and confidence.

The biggest hurdle, though, was open water swimming. The depth triggered anxiety, and during Ironman training she often felt panicked and breathless. To manage this, she shortened her open water sessions, getting out before the fear set in. It didn’t erase the challenge completely, but it made the experience more manageable.

Now, Laura sees swimming differently. "A 1500m pool swim is a relaxing recovery session," she says. "When I started, I couldn’t swim 50m without feeling like I’d cry." Swimming has not only improved her fitness. It has boosted her resilience and given her a sense of calm that carries over into everyday life.

Her advice to others learning to swim? “Start small. Just get in the water. Practice breathing and focus on one thing at a time. And finally, don’t worry what others think, they’re too busy thinking about themselves!”

Whether it’s your first swim or your first triathlon, Women in Tri UK is here to support you every step, stroke, and pedal of the way. Inspired by Nahida and Laura's stories? Why not set your own challenge this year—and see just how far you can go? Join our community here.