The Olympics Swimming Events

I have been mesmerized by the performance of Michael Phelps in this year’s Olympics. How could anyone be that good? I have enjoyed watching Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe win a gold medal for that embattled country. And to see Rebecca Adlington of Great Britain outpace her competitors by several seconds in the longest swimming race of the games.

I learned to swim early in my time at Sakeji School. The principal, Mr. Hess, took personal responsibility to teach every child how to swim. Lessons were held every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon in The Mud Pool (see picture), a widening and deepening of the Sakeji River after which the school is named. The incentive to learn was that once we had passed “The Test” of swimming across the river and back with Mr. Hess at our side we were free to swim anywhere in The Mud Pool and enjoy the time in the river jumping off trees and floating downstream on inner tubes.

I failed “The Test” on my first attempt. I swam all the way across in the dog paddle that Mr. Hess taught and swam all the way back. When my knees hit the ground I stood up. However Mr. Hess was not aware that I had hit bottom and had expected me to swim further – so he failed me. I passed on the second try.

During the rainy season the Sakeji River would swell and the current would pick up considerably. Only the strongest swimmers could make it across the Mud Pool but occasionally one of the weaker swimmers would lose their footing and be drawn in by the current. Drama ensued as Mr. Hess went out after them, fighting the current to save them from being washed away. Following what always seemed to be a dramatic rescue Mr. Hess would punish the child for being careless, as though the gulps of river water and almost drowning were not punishment enough. Some punishments were quite severe.

During my tenure at Sakeji Mr. Hess had a proper swimming pool built – I think his son Jim, in his late twenties and also on staff at the time, was the project director. The canal that turned the water wheel to generate electricity also fed the new pool. While it was a great addition to the school we did miss the Mud Pool and occasionally were able to go back and enjoy its natural atmosphere.

My school in England, Royal Liberty Grammar School, had its own outdoor swimming pool. A Swimming Gala (competition) was held in May and I was entered in one of the races for my age level. I finished third out of four in my race because the fourth competitor was home sick that day! I did, however, receive a certificate for third place. My stomach was very sore that spring and I attributed it to the cold water in the swimming pool – how that worked I couldn’t figure out. Later I realized it was caused by the use of muscles that had been unused for some month!


In my high school years at Luanshya our family had access to the Olympic Pool (see picture) which was part of the recreation facilities for the Roan Antelope Copper Mine employees. Many hours were spent there. The pool also sported a set of diving boards – one, three, and ten meters, the first two being springboards and the latter a platform. Some of the more daring (and stupid?) high school boys enjoyed jumping off the ten meter on to the three meter whose spring action would flip them about half way acoss the pool. Lawsuits were obviously not an issue in that place and time.

I have always taken the ability to swim for granted but when my own children came along I realized that it takes time and effort to equip them with that important ability. My wife had to sign them up for lessons and sit for hours watching them progress until they were competent. I am grateful for that Sakeji experience.

© 2008 Roy Kruse