From the shallow end to the Serpentine: Learning to swim at 65

When we met Matthew Carter, he was excitedly nervous about his two-mile swim at Swim Serpentine. As he told us his astonishing swim story, we were agog. We asked him to share it, so here it is – an inspiring tale that shows the power of determination, never giving up and that you’re never too old to learn to swim outdoors! Over to Matthew.

In January 2026, I could never have imagined that just nine months later I would be standing on the banks of the Serpentine in London, preparing to swim two miles in open water. If someone had told me then that I would not only complete the swim but finish 45 minutes ahead of my target time, I would have laughed.

The truth is that swimming and I did not exactly have a happy history. As a child, I was forced to learn to swim. Looking back, I can honestly say that I hated every minute of it. The pool seemed permanently unheated, the water felt freezing, and as a skinny five-year-old I spent most of my lessons shivering and wishing I was anywhere else. I think I managed to earn a 25-metre badge, but the experience left such a lasting impression that I avoided swimming whenever possible for the next six decades.

Anything but swimming

When my own children learned to swim, things were very different. They were taught in warm, controlled environments, with excellent instructors and plenty of encouragement. Both became strong and confident swimmers. On family holidays, I would happily splash around in the shallow end, pretending I knew what I was doing. In reality, I had forgotten almost everything I had learned as a child. I could barely swim ten metres without stopping, had no real control over my breathing, and possessed virtually no swimming stamina whatsoever.

For many years, that didn’t matter. I had already taken on some major endurance challenges. I had completed RideLondon. I had run the London Marathon. Then one day I discovered the London Classics Medal, awarded to those who complete RideLondon, the London Marathon and the Swim Serpentine. Two out of three were already done. The only obstacle standing between me and the medal was learning how to swim.

So in January 2026, at the age of 64, I enrolled in adult swimming lessons.

Learning to swim

I will not pretend it was easy because it wasn’t. Learning a new skill later in life can be humbling. Progress sometimes felt slow, and there were plenty of moments when I questioned whether I had taken on too much. Breathing felt unnatural, technique seemed complicated, and every length of the pool required concentration.

But I persevered. Week by week, small improvements began to appear. My confidence grew. My breathing became more controlled. Distances that had once seemed impossible gradually became manageable.

Then, in February, I decided it was time to try open water swimming. I drove down to Andark Lake near Southampton, feeling equal parts excited and nervous. After an excellent briefing from the team, I stepped into the water and experienced open water swimming for the first time.

I absolutely loved it.

Freedom of the outdoors

The freedom was unlike anything I had experienced in a swimming pool. No walls every 25 metres. No crowded lanes. Just open water and the challenge of moving through it under my own steam. From that moment, I was hooked.

Throughout the spring and summer, I continued to train. With regular practice and plenty of excellent advice from more experienced swimmers, I became more efficient in the water. I learned how to breathe properly. I learned pacing. My stamina increased dramatically.

Most importantly, I started to enjoy swimming.

On my 65th Birthday in August, I had successfully completed a 2-kilometre swim and finished feeling like I still had plenty left in the tank. For the first time, the Serpentine no longer felt like an impossible dream. It felt achievable.

The big day

On 19 September 2026, I stood at the start of the two-mile Swim Serpentine event. Months of training, early mornings, cold water sessions and hard work had all led to this moment.

The swim was tough. There is no point pretending otherwise. Two miles in open water is a serious challenge, particularly for someone who could barely swim ten metres at the start of the year. There were moments when I had to dig deep and keep going.

But I loved every minute of it.

Crossing the finish line was an incredible feeling. Not only had I completed the swim, but I had beaten my goal time of three hours by an astonishing 45 minutes.

The challenge that had seemed impossible just nine months earlier was complete.

What started as a quest to earn a London Classics Medal became something much more significant. I discovered a sport that I genuinely enjoy. Open water swimming has become my favourite way to swim, and I know it will remain part of my life for many years to come.

This journey taught me something important. It is never too late to learn a new skill, never too late to challenge yourself, and never too late to surprise yourself.

At 65 years old, I learned to swim.

So if I can do it, anyone can.

Huge congratulations to Matthew, and thank you for sharing your story.