INDIANAPOLIS — While working to promote the USA Olympic Swimming Trials in Indianapolis this June, Kim Thomas realized it was finally time for her to learn to swim.
"It's never too late. It's never too late," Thomas said.
At 51, Thomas said she's always feared being underwater.
"Initially, it was that you're not going to be able to breathe, you're going to drown and I hated the feeling of having water go into my nose or into my throat and not just coughing because that incites a feeling of panic," Thomas said.
Thomas said the persistent urging of her boss and the Swim IN Safety program's legacy goal of teaching 50,000 Hoosiers how to swim by the end of this Olympic year inspired her to act.
"I think was like 2 a.m., I signed up for a class that started at 11 a.m.," Thomas said.
Her swim coach is John Fencl.
"She's disciplined and she was motivated, and that's two key factors," Fencl said.
Fencl and Thomas meet at the Carmel Swim Academy weekly, and Fencl follows an 11-step program that starts with water safety.
They progressed to breathing, bobbing and eventually floating.
"Now, Kim is safe in the water. She can float on her back," Fencl said.
Thomas is one of the first in her family to learn to swim.
"Pools were not accessible for my grandmother because they just weren't allowed. The Black community was not allowed to be a part of it," Thomas said.
Access to swimming pools starting at an early age is an issue, and lack of swimming time can be deadly.
Black children drown at rates three times higher than white children. Sixty-four percent of Black children cannot swim—compared to 40% of their Caucasian peers. Eighty-seven percent of young non-swimmers, regardless of race, plan to visit a beach or pool during the summer, according to a study conducted by the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis.
"Ten Americans a day are drowning on average, and most people are not as good a swimmer as they think they are," Fencl said.
Thomas said not learning how to swim kept her from making memories.
"I regret some moments in life where I was in beautiful bodies of water where I was too afraid to even put my foot in, so I really missed some key moments in my life because I can't swim," Thomas said.
She's now working on her strokes and encouraging others to overcome obstacles.
"I know in the Black community, oftentimes we're worried about our hair ... heard most of your hair would fall out because of chlorine. And there really is a sensitivity to it," Thomas said. "But put all of those excuses aside, and commit that now is the time to learn a sport that could potentially save your life or someone else's."
The Swim IN Safety program presented by Eli Lilly and Company reports it is over halfway toward the goal of teaching water safety to 50,000 people by the end of this year.
If you or someone you know, would like to learn to swim, click here.