“At the beginning of the year, everyone sets a goal.
In 2022, mine was to learn to swim,” proudly explains Marcos, leaning on the edge of the pool’s small basin.
A few months ago, the 24-year-old narrowly avoided drowning when he lost his footing in a pool while having fun with friends.
A misadventure which reinforced the financier in his desire to learn to swim.
This Tuesday, September 20, he attends the evening class given by Marie.
This lifeguard is part of the “Les Colombes de Bercy” club, a swimming association that offers, among other things, swimming sessions for adult beginners.
Teaching swimming to adults is much more complicated than for children, she believes.
“When you are an adult, you are aware of the dangers linked to water, to drowning.
As a child, we have much less apprehension.
Among the participants, the profiles are varied.
“We have people who have fears following an emotional shock, accidents they had in the water when they were young, or they were taught swimming in a brutal way.
Many also have never had the opportunity to go to a swimming pool”, enumerates Marie.
Read also“At 40, it’s not easy to get into the water with your buoy”: these adults who decide to learn to swim
While one in seven French people say they can't swim, the offer of lessons for adult beginners remains quite limited in Île-de-France.
"Our members do not come only from the 12th arrondissement but from everywhere in the Paris region", abounds Michael Magar, president of the Colombes de Bercy, explaining that he has "a very important demand".
Currently, about twenty apprentice swimmers benefit from this course each week thanks to the association.
The subscription amounts to 170 euros per year, the same amount as for any other member.
