Fear of water: How twin sisters beat panic and learned to swim

Swimming Dad
Sep 5, 2025
4 min read

Two eight-year-old sisters – twins - arrived at my pool. One couldn’t put her face in the water without panicking; the other had survived a traumatic near-drowning experience. And yet, their parents said, “Oh, they love water. They just need someone to teach them how to swim properly.” But they didn’t tell me the most important part - that both girls were terrified of water. And that (lack of) honesty - something many parents skip out of love and hope - is actually the key to helping a child overcome their fear of water.

In Serbia, more than half of young people don’t know how to swim safely, and the fear of water - especially among children - is rarely talked about… until it becomes a barrier.

But here’s the truth: Water fear can be overcome. This is the story of two sisters who did just that.

How we conquered the fear of water - together

Three times a week. Nine months straight. No skipping. No rush. No pressure. That was our path—me and two young girls afraid of water. We didn’t just learn how to swim. We learned how to relax in the water. How to trust. How to breathe. How to laugh, even when we fail.

Through games, bubbles, talk and quiet moments - we built trust. Every lesson was one step closer to confidence. It wasn’t easy. That first winter, they finally managed to wet their faces without tears. By spring, they learned to breathe correctly. By summer - they swam freely.

This wasn’t a Hollywood story with a fast, happy ending. It was the beginning of their lifelong friendship with water.

Today, those same twins dive in, swim, laugh - and fear nothing. That smile you see through the goggles and the bubbles - that’s the reason I do what I do.

Because learning to swim is not just a skill.It’s a journey of trust, persistence, and overcoming fear.

And that's why: never give up.

You are not alone!

Does a fear of water mean a child will never learn to swim?

Absolutely not.

Even world-class swimmers had similar beginnings:

Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, had a fear of water as a child. His mom enrolled him in swim lessons to help him cope - and the rest is history.
Ian Thorpe, the Australian “Torpedo,” was allergic to chlorine and disliked the pool. But with patience and adaptation, he became a legend.
Simone Manuel, the first African-American woman to win Olympic gold in swimming, grew up in a community where water was seen as dangerous. With her family’s support, she became a symbol of change.

Even Serbian champions faced their fears

“When I was 3 or 4 years old, a rubber raft flipped over on the sea. I was in shock. I developed a deep fear of water.”— Ivan Lenđer, Serbian swimmer and multiple-time national champion

Fear of water can affect anyone—even those who go on to become the best.

Ivan overcame his fear thanks to his uncle, who felt responsible and took him to the pool when he was six. A water polo coach worked with him one-on-one. It took a full year of patience and effort for Ivan to move from the small pool to the big one—but he did.Today, he’s living proof that even the deepest fear can be turned into strength.

Parents, be honest: “Yes, my child is afraid of water.”

That’s when the real change begins.

Parental honesty changes everything.

In swimming, just like in life, admitting the fear is often the hardest part. But saying “My child is afraid” is not weakness—it’s the first step toward freedom in the water.

Fear doesn’t vanish by throwing a child into the deep end. It disappears when we acknowledge it, and when we let a trained professional approach it - with trust, knowledge, and care.

Whether that fear is innate, learned, or rooted in a traumatic event, the right approach changes everything. Children sense everything. Your tension. Your doubts. And that’s what either opens them up - or shuts them down even more.

It’s not the end of the world when a child says,

“I’m scared. I don’t want to swim.”

That’s not the end - that’s the beginning. Our job is to turn that “I can’t” into “I can”, to turn fear into joy.

It takes time. It’s not always easy. Some days will challenge both you and your child. But when the same child who once cried in fear now dives underwater with a smile - You’ll know it was worth every step.

There’s no greater victory - for a child, for a parent, or for me.

Swimming stats in Serbia: A wake-up call

63% of young people under 30 in Serbia don’t know how to swim, according to a 2019 study by Pobuna Serbia (based on 2,400 participants).
75% of non-swimmers have never been to the sea, the same research shows.
Despite our water polo fame, half of Serbia’s population cannot swim.

These aren’t just numbers. They are lives, childhoods, and lost opportunities.

Many children in smaller towns grow up without pools. Parents without swim experience don’t enroll their kids. And each year, we hear heartbreaking stories - tragedies that could have been prevented.

In the U.S., the numbers are just as alarming

According to the USA Swimming Foundation:

Over 60% of children who don’t learn to swim by age 10 struggle to learn later in life.
1 in 5 drowning deaths in children happens because the child didn’t know how to swim.

Water is not the enemy – It’s the world’s biggest playground

When a child learns to swim, they gain confidence, trust, and freedom. Fear doesn’t disappear overnight - but with each breath, each kick, and each smile, it fades a little more.

If your child is afraid of water - you’re not alone. And your child is not “less brave” because of it.