This executive just swam his first lap at 49

Fraser McNaughton is chief marketing officer and head of industry at Grant Thornton Australia. He’s 49 and lives in Willoughby, Sydney.

When did you start swimming?

Six weeks ago. My two daughters – Vivienne, who is 10, and Emily, who is eight – were at Lane Cove swimming pool practising when a swimming coach named Mike approached my wife and asked if he could give them a couple of tips. My wife told him I was having trouble finding someone to teach me how to swim properly. Mike gave her his number, I phoned him that day and lined up my first lesson.

You never swam growing up in Glasgow?

I was always climbing mountains or playing football. Swimming just wasn’t a thing. We didn’t get the weather, access to pools was limited, and lessons were expensive back then. We didn’t have lots of money.

Why did you have trouble finding a swimming coach here in Australia?

We have our own pool, but I’ve never been comfortable in the water. I had this made-up stroke that got me from one end to the other but most of the time I would stop because I was losing breath. I went to a couple of pools to ask about a coach and was directed to the swim schools. I asked if I could learn how to swim, but they had no classes for someone like me. I asked if I could find my own coach and come to the swimming pool, but they said no, you have to do lessons with us. They said I should get a coach and do it in my own pool, but my pool is seven metres long and I’m six feet two, so I’m not sure that would have worked.

So how was your first lesson with Mike?

My wife and kids came to watch, so I was a bit nervous. Mike just got me right into it straight away. He made me do a lap and he was incredibly encouraging. It was not as bad as I thought. It took me about 50 seconds to swim 25 metres. Fast-forward six weeks, and I’m doing that in 18 seconds. And I can swim 500 metres non-stop, which I’m very chuffed about.