In an earlier post I’ve omitted several important things associated with this water sport. Foremost in every enduring physical activity, one must carefully assess one’s reserve energy, stamina, and physical fitness. This careful assessment comes with only experience. Suddenly one cannot stop swimming in the middle of a fast flowing stream and flip over to the edge; one has to control and properly steer the body away from physical danger. Even in tranquil pool waters one can get stuck with severe cramp in the thigh, calf, or hand. Then we have to gently learn to float for a while and some how cross towards the nearest edge, ladder, or bank. This maneuvering must occur while keeping normal breathing without letting the body drown due to sheer exhaustion. History is replete with terrible tragedies in swimming. The famous English Channel swimmer Captain Matthew Webb could not handle the dangerous whirlpool-whipping currents of Niagara River.
Here is a portrait of the famous Indian swimmer Mihir Sen with Prime Minister Nehru. It ought to inspire young students and athletes in any age. (Photo is from the Internet; Copyright probably belongs to his daughter.)
Some of the hostel students used to do stretching exercises before the dip. I did not do any stretching, per se during my daily swimming. I took those trips to the pool as a fun outing. Perhaps I should have done a little stretching before the diving. At least twice or thrice in the season I got severe muscle cramping while doing the long laps, i.e., along the length. In hindsight now I consider the cramping due to excessive (over) exercise, lack of fluids, or electrolytic imbalance. During running or bicycle riding one can move to the shoulder and rest till the spasm of cramping pain eases a bit. But while swimming we’ve to be extremely careful. I did not know these complications initially; did not talk with my friends about such issues. Slowly I learned to handle the cramping on my own. One of my legs would become suddenly stiff refusing to move at all. Then I would gently move my hands and turn over to the backstroke style (floating) and drag my body to the nearest ledge. Oh, damn, that used to be a very long tiring strenuous swim for that twenty or thirty feet distance.
With a bit of experience under my belt, such painful episodes stopped bothering me. I developed confidence and I could gauge my physical strength correctly. Then suddenly one weekend I got into a very dangerous situation. My troublesome teenager nephew (S.Y.) dragged me into an almost fatal situation. In the village I used to carry the same nephew (then a toddler) around the garden and coconut orchard to soothe him from stomach aches. So our bonding goes back many years – both in the ancestral village and in the mega city we used to play tricks and tease each other. That eventful summer he was idling at home and getting bored with nothing to do. One weekend he accompanied me to the hostel and pestered me about swimming. When I asked repeatedly, “Do you really know swimming?” he’d just bluff in the affirmative. I had my doubts and I yielded to the repeated beseeching. So we went to the pool for a few laps, no just for one lap across the width. To be on the safe side we should have started the swim from the shallow side. But we took to the plunge from the middle and just after few strokes my nephew started sinking; he was gasping for breath.
Instinctively he grabbed on to my body for help. I was actually a little ahead, totally unaware of his precarious situation. In such conditions the best course would be like this: the drowning person should keep the nose above water and hold on the waist (lower part) and help the rescuer to gently reach the nearest bank. Ideally the drowning person should not put his entire weight on the rescuer. But here we both were on the verge of sinking together. Luckily I pulled all my reserve strength and slowly dragged him to the edge. He was at least ten or fifteen pounds heavier than me. Then and there I took an instant oath - never to get into such dangerous situations. This a warning to all average swimmers!
My diving antics were more joyful. Jumping off from the lower diving boards (10 – 15’) was no big deal and I used try the straight vertical drop like a bamboo pole or the sitting posture to make a big splash. But on half a dozen times I did venture the jumps from the top most diving board. It was not that easy. I would climb all the way to the top and linger for many minutes – a bit apprehensive about the steep fall into the deep waters. Then suddenly out of nowhere a slender high school lad would appear right behind me. He would goad me gently, “Uncle, jump. No big deal.” Or, sometimes the teasing teenager would suddenly push me over the edge to clinch the issue – “to be or not to be”.
Then rapidly I would free fall for a while before hitting the green waters. With stretched hands and streamlined body I would try to reach the bottom as rapidly as possible. Then touch the floor and quickly turn around and start towards the shining light from the surface above. Maybe it was exhilarating a minute or two; I had to hold my breath and reach the fresh air in the open. Oh, what a relief! To feel that fresh air normal breathing out in the open. Mostly I did one dive per day but even that did affect my hearing. I should have used thick cotton swab (from the lab) or earplugs (rubber stoppers) for my own protection. But I did not notice the long-term effect till the season’s end. Then suddenly I would feel water in the inner ear and some sort of blockage (muffled hearing).
Who has time for going to the dispensary for the swimmer’s ear? I was too busy in the grad school with lab, some dabbling in poetry, and vacantly looking at the owls. Probably I tried a few drops of hydrogen peroxide or some ear-drops. Now I recall why some swimmers used to jump up and down with tilted head – to drain the water from ear canal. Finally after six months somehow I got rid of the ear blockage. Luckily my hearing stayed perfect through all these years. Now I do wear earplugs or tight woolen cap while working with noisy lawn mower or snow blower.
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