Paralympian Swimmer Melanie Barratt: How I found Cold Water Swimming

by Melanie Barratt

There is something about water… Peace, movement, the sound, the smell, the sight of nature at it’s finest. Paddleboarding is such a wonderful, unobtrusive way to enjoy this; gliding over the water, leaving but a ripple behind you. But have you ever considered what it would be like from a different perspective?

I am registered blind and have been since birth. I have some useful vision; I can see colours and shapes but not any detail, and I only see in 2 dimensions having only one eye. However, I count myself as fortunate as I have no idea what “normal vision” is – I have always seen things the way I do now. I know I will never drive, never ride a bike, or wave and smile to a friend across the street. In fact, I can’t exchange a smile or glance with someone at any time – I can’t even recognise my own family and have been known to say hello to dustbins and ignore well known friends and family. However, I have never known otherwise,  and so I don’t feel a loss. What I have always loved is being in water, being supported, engulfed, surrounded and hugged by it. Moving through it, feeling it on my body, on my face and running through my fingers and hands, rushing through my ears. Face in the water I can see only blue or green or black depending on the water. Above the water I can see very little and it’s been a bit of a learning curve what shapes are on the water!

I was lucky enough to have a career in competitive swimming. For 8 years my life revolved around pool training, competing, travelling all over the world to race and win medals for Great Britain. I lived in and for the pool, I dreamt and lived swimming. The pinnacle of my career was winning Gold and Silver at the Paralympics in Atlanta, and Gold Silver and Bronze in Sydney. I have some fantastic memories of an incredible, intense time of my life… lead at quite a pace!