Swimming gives the disabled a sense of empowerment

It is thrilling for the disabled to move with ease underwater. Photo: Filepic

One of the best things that people with disabilities can – and should – involve themselves in is sport. It does wonders for your self-esteem and general psyche. It has a way of effectively lifting up any feelings of helplessness to enable you to focus on parts of your body you can work on to bring about positive changes.

Though I have never taken part in any sports activities, I did learn how to swim when I was in my early twenties. Initially, the thought of a paralysed person getting into an Olympic-size swimming pool seemed like a ludicrous death wish when a friend suggested it to me. As he is a trained lifeguard, it was not easy to brush him off. And I must say, the idea was also incredibly tantalising.