大象传媒

"A lot of the time it's nerves that hold people back," says Lisa Hatch, Swimming Instructor at Braunstone Leisure Centre.

That certainly rang a bell with Rupal who has never been at ease in water. So Lisa started her off exploring the shallow end of the pool.

It should be said, however, that in the deep end of the pool听the water only came up to Rupal's chest.

When she gingerly entered the water Lisa encouraged her to walk around just to get used to being in a waterlogged environment.

Although it is difficult to walk through deep water, Lisa told her pupil that it is actually easier to swim in deep water, "because there is more water you are more buoyant," she said.

Whether Rupal believed her is a moot point.

Listen: Rupal's first lesson

Lisa came back to the importance of being comfortable in the pool. "It's all about confidence... If you can conquer your fear [of going under] then you won't be a nervous swimmer." Then, of course, you can begin to enjoy the experience.

Lisa encourages Rupal in the pool...

The next hurdle was a bit more daunting. Holding onto the side Rupal was told to breathe deeply-and dunk her head under the water. She was only under for a second but hated the feeling.

"Relax!" was the advice from Lisa. "Easier said than done," thought Rupal.

Next came legs. Legs, it seems are very important part of swimming. "If you have strong legs you could do the crawl well," said Lisa.

Rupal enjoyed making a good splash with her legs. Whether this got her any closer to being able to swim is debatable! Certainly, Lisa thought Rupal's strong legs were a real advantage.

Undaunted, Rupal pursued her watery training sessions.

At the next one, Lisa tried to encourage her pupil to breathe rhythmically. Rupal had to keep "close to the water". This wasn't music to Rupal's ears but she gamely ploughed on...or swam, rather.

Listen: The importance of breathing

When Rupal's mouth went beneath the water she was told to blow out bubbles. This she happily did. But alternating bubbling with breathing proved a more difficult task.

Lisa explains effective breathing technique...

"Face up, breathe in! Face down, bubbles!" encouraged a jovial Lisa. But turning aside she remarked, "She looks very nervous. She's not happy about it."

"It was hard. I was struggling how to breathe," said Rupal.

But she managed to get across the pool earning an "Excellent! Well done!... We're half way there!" from Lisa.

Listen: Rupal swimming the length

After a few days of sheer hard-work and determination on Rupal's part, it was time for her to swim the length of 25 metres.

Rupal tries to make the distance...

Rupal was all ready, and was reassured by Lisa, who said she had complete faith in her. She encouraged Rupal to meet her target:

"You're past halfway Rupal, remember to use your legs."

With only five metres to go, Rupal started to feel the pressure and simply couldn't make it.

She said: "Unbelievable, I can't believe I did it again, I just ran out of energy, I just couldn't do it."

Lisa said it didn't matter, she would just have to keep on trying until she did. With one more lesson to go, will Rupal make it?

Listen: Success!

After disappointment in her third lesson, Rupal attempted to swim the 25 metres again, and this time she did it!

How did Rupal feel afterwards?

Well done Rupal!

"Exhausted. I did it! Yes! I don't think I'd be able to do it again though."

Lisa was very impressed with Rupal's progress:

"Brilliant. Thinking about everything and like I've said, it's really important to try and think about it, then it takes away the pain.

"If you think about something else, you forget that may legs are about to fall off or I'm really struggling to breathe, so brilliant. Well done!"

Rupal says she's going to try and keep up the swimming now she's got her first certificate, and she might even take Breakfast presenter Ben Jackson for a dip!