DETROIT – It takes guts to learn to swim as an adult. If you don’t think that’s the case, just ask Darnell Blackburn, Local 4’s Crime and Safety Expert.
For Blackburn, swim safety classes began as an idea back in May 2024. It evolved into a mission.
Background: ‘It’s never too late to learn’: Local 4′s Darnell Blackburn opens-up about learning to swim
For weeks, Blackburn invited Local 4 viewers on his journey in learning to swim. He admitted it wasn’t easy.
“I’m more comfortable in the water,” Blackburn said during his final swim class. “I was never comfortable before.”
Swimming is a skill Blackburn never learned as a child. Over the summer, he spent seven weeks taking adult swim lessons at Bohl Family YMCA in Detroit. He showed up to tackle his fears. He got in the pool, determined to learn swim safety skills that could ultimately help himself and his family, including his two youngest sons.
Darnell said the classes helped him feel more comfortable in the water. He was less intimidated.
Through weekly hour-long intense sessions, Blackburn’s instructor, Crystalyn, guided him and a class of adults through each class. They learned breathing techniques, floating, gliding, and kicking among other skills.
“I feel much better than when I started,” Blackburn said during his final swim class “But I’m still not at my goal.”
While his comfort level and confidence in the water has dramatically improved, Blackburn is still working on swimming technique. That’s taking some work.
“The instructor is phenomenal,” Blackburn explained. “She’s awesome. My classmates have been good. The only thing that’s been a challenge is life. I’ve had to make up a couple of classes. That’s not an excuse. I’ve made them up, I went through every class. But life happens, and sometimes you have other things that get in the way.”
Nothing is getting in the way of this guy’s determination. Blackburn said his goal is to learn to swim, and he’s not stopping until he reaches that goal.
“It’s an issue about facing your fears and recognizing that you can overcome them,” Blackburn said. “This is something that I was very apprehensive about. Excited, but apprehensive.”
Blackburn said he’s all in and committed to taking more swim classes.
Read more: Darnell Blackburn: Life’s challenges can’t stop my swim journey
You can find more information on YMCA’s swim lessons here.