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| Triathlon: First-time triathlete learns to swim in eight weeks | Triathlon: First-time triathlete learns to swim in eight weeks |
| (10 months later) | |
| John, who finished ninth in Saturday's event, couldn't swim two months ago | John, who finished ninth in Saturday's event, couldn't swim two months ago |
| Eight weeks ago John McDermott couldn't swim and had a fear of water. | Eight weeks ago John McDermott couldn't swim and had a fear of water. |
| He had never in his life been in a swimming pool. At the seaside, he wouldn't let the water rise above his ankles. | He had never in his life been in a swimming pool. At the seaside, he wouldn't let the water rise above his ankles. |
| But the 36-year-old from Strabane, County Tyrone, a keen runner and cyclist, had a burning desire to compete in a triathlon - a sport which combines swimming, cycling and running. | But the 36-year-old from Strabane, County Tyrone, a keen runner and cyclist, had a burning desire to compete in a triathlon - a sport which combines swimming, cycling and running. |
| To do that he'd need to challenge himself to overcome his fear. | To do that he'd need to challenge himself to overcome his fear. |
| On 14 June, he entered a swimming pool for the first time in his life. | On 14 June, he entered a swimming pool for the first time in his life. |
| "I signed up to the triathlon nine weeks out, my first [swimming] lesson was the following week," John told BBC Radio Foyle. | "I signed up to the triathlon nine weeks out, my first [swimming] lesson was the following week," John told BBC Radio Foyle. |
| He had two months to learn to swim. | He had two months to learn to swim. |
| Last Saturday, he completed his debut triathlon, including a 350-metres open-water swim, finishing ninth in the Omagh Try A Tri event at Loughmacrory. | Last Saturday, he completed his debut triathlon, including a 350-metres open-water swim, finishing ninth in the Omagh Try A Tri event at Loughmacrory. |
| "I am still on a high," he said. | "I am still on a high," he said. |
| "It sounds weird to say but I felt so proud of myself. It is the biggest thing I have overcome." | "It sounds weird to say but I felt so proud of myself. It is the biggest thing I have overcome." |
| John's daughters Fiadh and Meabh are "very proud" of their daddy | John's daughters Fiadh and Meabh are "very proud" of their daddy |
| According to official figures, swimming is the most popular sport for adults in Northern Ireland but the thought of diving in can fill many people with dread. | According to official figures, swimming is the most popular sport for adults in Northern Ireland but the thought of diving in can fill many people with dread. |
| As many as one in every four adults in the UK struggles to swim for 25m (82ft) unaided, with many having been put off learning by a bad experience or a lifelong fear of water. | As many as one in every four adults in the UK struggles to swim for 25m (82ft) unaided, with many having been put off learning by a bad experience or a lifelong fear of water. |
| John said his fear of the water had gathered its own momentum over the years. | John said his fear of the water had gathered its own momentum over the years. |
| "I think it is more a confidence thing. I am scared of the unknown with the water, never really swam, actively avoided it," he said. | "I think it is more a confidence thing. I am scared of the unknown with the water, never really swam, actively avoided it," he said. |
| He added: "It probably got into my own head more the longer it went on, building up, being more scared of it than I should have been." | He added: "It probably got into my own head more the longer it went on, building up, being more scared of it than I should have been." |
| But having signed up for the triathlon there was no going back. | But having signed up for the triathlon there was no going back. |
| John's always been a keen runner and cyclist - two of the three disciplines of a triathlon | John's always been a keen runner and cyclist - two of the three disciplines of a triathlon |
| His first lesson at the leisure centre in Ballybofey in County Donegal was a daunting experience. | His first lesson at the leisure centre in Ballybofey in County Donegal was a daunting experience. |
| "That first lesson wasn't great," John said. | "That first lesson wasn't great," John said. |
| "If I hadn't signed up for the triathlon I'm not sure I would have gone back. | "If I hadn't signed up for the triathlon I'm not sure I would have gone back. |
| "The feeling of being in the pool, in the water, suddenly the enormity of the challenge was real. I had to stick with it." | "The feeling of being in the pool, in the water, suddenly the enormity of the challenge was real. I had to stick with it." |
| His determination took him back the next evening. As the weeks progressed, he found every lesson as challenging as the one before. | His determination took him back the next evening. As the weeks progressed, he found every lesson as challenging as the one before. |
| 'Swimming has changed my life' | 'Swimming has changed my life' |
| John Legend and the others learning to swim as adults | John Legend and the others learning to swim as adults |
| "Every training session I had to build myself up, start nice and slow, get my face into the water. I still have to actively work at it, something I am dealing with." | "Every training session I had to build myself up, start nice and slow, get my face into the water. I still have to actively work at it, something I am dealing with." |
| As the date of the triathlon loomed ever closer, John knew swimming in open water could be a whole different experience to that in the pool. | As the date of the triathlon loomed ever closer, John knew swimming in open water could be a whole different experience to that in the pool. |
| He wanted to test himself in the lough. | He wanted to test himself in the lough. |
| "I went three times [before the triathlon]. On the first trip again, the enormity of it all set in, it's a different type of water, it's dark, it moves in a different way," he said. | "I went three times [before the triathlon]. On the first trip again, the enormity of it all set in, it's a different type of water, it's dark, it moves in a different way," he said. |
| John competes again on 20 August | John competes again on 20 August |
| On his first attempt at the 350m distance, he recorded a time of 25 minutes. Last Saturday, he finished the swim leg of the triathlon in just over 13 minutes. | On his first attempt at the 350m distance, he recorded a time of 25 minutes. Last Saturday, he finished the swim leg of the triathlon in just over 13 minutes. |
| "I was second last out of the water, it took a while, but I was clapped like I was first out." | "I was second last out of the water, it took a while, but I was clapped like I was first out." |
| Everyone he says, was cheering and clapping, including his wife, Grace, and their daughters Fiadh, four and Meabh, two. | Everyone he says, was cheering and clapping, including his wife, Grace, and their daughters Fiadh, four and Meabh, two. |
| His family, he said, were "very proud" with all he has achieved. | His family, he said, were "very proud" with all he has achieved. |
| Now he is training for his second triathlon on 20 August in County Donegal - an event with an increased swimming distance of 450 metres. | Now he is training for his second triathlon on 20 August in County Donegal - an event with an increased swimming distance of 450 metres. |
| Related Topics | |
| Strabane | |
| Foyle and West |