Swimming coach Heidi at Action Aquatics

Swimming is not only considered an effective way of staying fit and in shape, it is also an important skill that can be lifesaving as accidents near and in water can happen so quickly.

Action Aquatics Learn to Swim coach, Heidi Breedt said: “I had swimming lessons when I was a child, and was able to swim from a young age, but I never considered swimming as a sport. After school I dipped my toes into personal training.”

Her first swim teaching job was at a gym in the city in 2016 where she also completed her teaching course through Swimming South Africa.

“Ude Füchs, head coach at Action Aquatics, approached me for the Learn to Swim group in October and since then I am part of Action Aquatics. If I want to coach more advanced swimmers, I will need to complete additional training, I am also proud to say that I have first aid training.”

Heidi thinks the best quality to have as swimming coach is to be patient. “You have to work with people with different personalities, and at times I have to work with a disabled children, which was quite challenging. I love working with children between the ages of five and six years old. Children between two and three years are scared and you have to first work with them to overcome their water phobia. I focus on kicking and then floating and I encourage my swimmers to just be comfortable in the water.”

In her free time, Heidi spends time with her husband, Rhinus watching television and she enjoys horseriding.