The 34-year-old mother of four only learnt to swim two years ago and while swimming in a pool gave her “joy and a sense of peace”, she says entering the ocean was a much more daunting prospect.
While her children all swim well it was not knowing how to do it herself which had previously made trips to the pool or beach an anxious experience.
“My children are third generation born in Australia and it is natural for them to want to go to the pool and to the beach,” she said.
“I wouldn’t let them go in the water beyond the ankles or knees because I knew I couldn’t help them.”
It was her 13-year-old daughter who asked why she didn’t “just learn to swim” herself and Ms Elzamtar says after that “lightbulb moment”, a friend pointed her to the volunteer-led Swim Sisters program founded by Yusra Metwally and run out of the Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre.
Crediting the supportive Swim Sisters instructors with helping her find the courage to take the next step and enjoy her first salt-water swim, she says it was “transforming”.
“It’s so much better. The ocean has a sense of peace,” she said.
“It just has a special feeling to it, and wow, passing those waves to get to the still water, what a workout.
“There’s no way I would have done it without knowing I had lifesavers right there, looking out for me. I felt almost invincible; the empowerment it gave me was amazing.”
The Swim Sisters ocean water safety program runs at Bondi from February 13 to March 27. Details: facebook.com/swimsistersquad.
