Congratulations are in order for Souyma Kattikat and Steve Ferndandez!
If you stopped by the Wilson’s pool on a Tuesday night these past few months, you may have seen them swimming side by side—laughter echoing through the glass atrium.
It didn’t start off like that, says Souyma: “I was quite anxious at the start, as I was uncomfortable in the water and couldn’t even put my head under. Kat’s calm, patient, and encouraging teaching style made a huge difference. Swimming with her felt relaxing, and she gradually helped me overcome my fears—to the point where I was confidently dolphin diving for pool toys! By the end of the program, I had learned three strokes.”
Coach Kat beams, saying that “the sense of ease, confidence, and play” she sees when Souyma and Steve swim together today is exactly what she hopes swimmers gain from the adult learn-to-swim (ALTS) program. This story comes at the perfect time, as April is Adult Learn-to-Swim Month.
According to United States Masters Swimming (USMS), approximately 37% of adults in the U.S. are not yet able to swim the length of a pool. Further, only about half of adults can perform all five basic lifesaving water skills: jumping in, treading water, turning, swimming 25 yards, and exiting. The ALTS program is working to expand access to lifesaving skills and a love of swimming nationwide.
Souyma started working with Coach Kat on her own, and, after several sessions, her husband, Steve joined for tag-team lessons. “My husband also made great progress,” Souyma says. “He finished with two strokes under his belt and felt great about his improved skills.”
Souyma and Steve looked forward to the weekly lessons. “What really stood out to both of us,” she says, “was how thoughtfully Kat tailored each session to our individual needs and goals. She balanced encouragement with skill-building in a way that kept us both motivated and comfortable.”
“Tag-team lessons are so much fun,” says Coach Kat. “Learning is great—and learning with a friend or spouse, well, that’s even better. I told Souyma and Steve that now they’re ready to race their kids all over the pool this summer.”
At their final lesson, Souyma and Steve showcased the many skills they had learned, and Coach Kat even introduced flip turns. After practice, she presented them with certificates of accomplishment, which the two accepted proudly, laughing at the “surprise graduation.”
“We highly recommend Kat to anyone—especially adults who may feel nervous about learning to swim,” says Souyma. “Her approach truly transforms the experience.”