SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Most people learn to swim as kids, but what happens when you never did?
For a growing number of adults, that gap is more than just an inconvenience. Royal Swim School wants to close it, one video at a time, with its new digital platform, Zero to Swim.
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A poll conducted by Gallop found 55 percent of people around the world can’t swim without help. Researchers interviewed more than 150,000 people from roughly 140 countries, aged 15 and older.
“I think everybody should be able to save their own life,” said Katie Sullivan, co-owner of Royal Swim School. “There’s water everywhere, and you should be able to save yourself no matter what.”
Fear tops list of barriers for adult learners
Sullivan said fear is the biggest obstacle keeping adults out of the pool — and that hesitation is more common than many people think.
Sullivan added that some adults feel embarrassed taking in-person lessons alongside children or other beginners. Zero to Swim eliminates that barrier by allowing learners to work through video lessons independently, at a pool of their choosing with a lifeguard present.
“They can go to a pool and do it on their own, but also at their own pace, because everybody learns at their pace,” Sullivan said.
What’s inside Zero to Swim
The course walks learners through the basics — from entering the water safely to floating, breathing technique and freestyle swimming. Videos generally run about three minutes, with the longest clocking in at nine minutes.
“Repetition is key,” Sullivan said. “Getting comfortable in the water, if you’re literally starting at zero where you don’t want to put your face in the water — the videos start with how to get in the water safely.”
Sullivan said the back float is one of the most important survival skills taught in the program.
“Floating in the water is just freedom,” she said. “The best way to save your life is a back float. And when you do that and your ears are underwater and you’re in the right body position, you can hear what’s going on underwater, and you’ve got that free-floating feeling. It’s actually really relaxing.”
Co-owner Zach Ortiz said the mental hurdle of getting into the pool is often the hardest part.
“To be honest, I think it’s just overcoming the fear of getting into the water,” Ortiz said. “I’ve taught lots of adults, and what I tend to see is once we can get them to relax, they start to learn everything really quickly.”
For learners who need extra support, Sullivan said the team offers live FaceTime or Zoom sessions — and will also review video submissions and send back personalized analysis.
The course costs $99 and includes access to the full library of lessons. Learners who follow Zero to Swim on Instagram or TikTok and comment “swim” can receive at least $20 off.
One swimmer’s story: ‘It’s never too late’
Courtney Cook, an editor at Local 4, knew she wanted to learn how to swim. She just didn’t know where to start.
“The Y was full, all these places were full,” Cook said.
I remember someone mentioning, why not try Aqua-Tots and I thought it was a joke, she recalled.
“I was like, wait, there’s nothing but kids on the page,” she said.
Before turning 40 years old, Cook completed swim lessons and learned how to breathe underwater, float on her back and freestyle. She said the experience was about far more than just learning strokes.
“I have a few reasons why I wanted to learn how to swim,” Cook said. “One was for survival. I didn’t want to feel uncomfortable when I would go out with friends.”
Cook also cited a deeper motivation — representation.
“You don’t see a lot of people of color that know how to swim, unfortunately,” she said. “So, I wanted to beat the odds. I even put it on my social media — beating the stereotype.”
She also swam in honor of a family member.
“My aunt was learning how to swim in her 60s, and unfortunately she passed away and she didn’t finish the class, so I wanted to finish for her,” Cook said.
Overcoming a childhood trauma
One of the biggest challenges Cook faced wasn’t physical — it was mental. She had nearly drowned as a child and had blocked out the memory until her swim instructor asked about it.
“The challenging part, actually, for me — I’m an overthinker,” Cook said. “So, this was the one place I couldn’t think. I had to allow myself to get comfortable with the water and trust the water so that I could float.”
Cook said her instructor helped her recognize the connection between that childhood experience and her hesitation in the water.
“The minute I wasn’t thinking and I would clear my mind, I was floating,” Cook said.
She recalled the near-drowning incident from when she was younger than eight years old, saying she had followed an older cousin into deeper water and began struggling before a bystander pulled her out.
Cook’s advice for hesitant adults
Cook, who documented her swimming journey on social media, said she hopes her story encourages others who are on the fence.
“I would just say it’s never too late,” Cook said. “We always pivot in our lives. I’ll say it — I’m 40. I’m not ashamed of learning at 40. We hear it all the time, people talk about picking up a new hobby or switching careers. So, why can’t we do it with swimming? There’s no age limit.”
This summer, Cook said her goal is to get comfortable in the deep end — and to eventually go kayaking without a second thought.
“The water won’t determine if I’m gonna have a good mood on a cruise or kayaking,” she said. “I’ll know how to survive.”