A swim a day keeps the doctor away

Every morning, come rain or shine, you can see Vladimir Lynov swimming up and down the Thompson’s Bay tidal pool.

The 66-year-old Russian aquaholic said his daily laps give him a healthy dose of adrenaline.

Lynov moved to Ballito four years ago from Moscow, where his morning swim was a little different.

“Every morning I jumped into the ice water hole in the lake about 800 metres from my house. I walked home without a towel, wearing just my shorts.”

He said it is tradition in Russia to go for an ice swim on Christmas, which they celebrate on January 6.

“An ice hole is made in all the lakes in the parks and everyone gets a turn to jump in. Doing this will keep you healthy for the winter.”

Lynov said the adrenaline rush you get from the icy swim is like a drug.

“You get out of the water and feel like you can fly. You have to try it to understand.”

Back in Ballito, Lynov’s daily three kilometre swim in the warm ocean does not give him quite the same adrenaline rush, but it still keeps the doctor away.

“I never go to the doctor. I believe that the routine of a morning swim keeps me healthy,” said the fit, friendly, former civil engineer.

His two water buddies, Jose de Charmoy and Mike Oberholzer share his passion and they encourage each other to keep visiting the tidal pool.

The father of three recently took part in the monthly Dolphin Mile Surf Swim Series in Durban and surprised everyone, including himself.

“I took part twice last year in the one mile swim, but this year I tried the triple distance swim and I won! I could not believe it.”

He plans to take part in more swimming competitions in the near future, but that will require a little more training.