What Are Signs of a Weak Swimmer You Shouldn’t Ignore?

Lack of Breath Control: The First Red Flag

Gasping, not breathing

Honestly, this is probably the first thing I notice when I’m at the pool and someone’s struggling. A strong swimmer uses their breath – they don't chase it. Weak swimmers tend to hold it way too long, then gasp desperately when they surface. Not ideal.

I remember this guy, Mark, from my old gym. He'd power through 25 meters, then cling to the wall like he just ran a marathon. We talked once. Turns out he was holding his breath the whole lap. No exhale underwater, just… nothing. That’s exhausting and dangerous.

No rhythm, no control

If your breathing feels random, forced, or panicky, that’s a clear sign you're not quite comfortable in the water yet. Good breath control means calm, consistent inhales and slow, steady exhales underwater. Like, think yoga… but wetter.

Body Position Tells a Lot More Than You Think

Legs sinking = instant giveaway

Well, here’s a quick visual tip: if someone’s legs are dragging below the surface like an anchor, they’re fighting the water instead of gliding through it. Weak swimmers often lack the core engagement or the horizontal balance to stay afloat smoothly.

One time, I saw this teenager kicking like crazy, making a splash but barely moving forward. His body was almost vertical. I felt for him – I used to do exactly the same thing when I first started learning freestyle. It’s not about power, it’s about position.

Head too high, eyes too wide

Weak swimmers usually lift their head way too far out of the water to breathe, which messes up everything else – body alignment, momentum, even visibility. Bonus clue? Big panicked eyes. You can spot it even before they enter the pool.

Poor Technique: It's Not Just About Speed

Sloppy strokes and overkicking

You don’t need to swim fast to be a strong swimmer. But watch how someone moves. Are the strokes symmetrical? Is the kick controlled, or just a furious mess of bubbles? Weak swimmers often overcompensate with wild kicks and flailing arms – it looks energetic, but it’s super inefficient.

I was giving tips to my friend Jenna the other week – she’s new to swimming. Her arms were crossing over the midline with every freestyle stroke. That’s a dead giveaway. We fixed her hand entry, and suddenly she was cutting through the water instead of fighting it.

Can't tread water? Big warning sign

This one gets overlooked a lot. But if someone can’t tread water calmly for at least 30 seconds to a minute? They’re not ready for deep water. Period.

Fear, Hesitation, and the Mental Side of Swimming

Always clinging to the wall

There’s nothing wrong with being cautious – we all start somewhere. But if someone never leaves the shallow end, or refuses to go where they can't touch the bottom… that’s more than preference. It usually points to a lack of confidence in their ability to stay afloat or recover if something goes wrong.

I had this moment at a beach in Spain – honestly, it caught me off guard. The waves were rougher than expected, and even though I can swim, I suddenly felt super unsure. Froze a bit. It reminded me how mental swimming is. Confidence can fade fast.

Panic in unexpected situations

Throw a weak swimmer into slightly deeper water or colder temps, and you’ll often see signs of panic – fast breathing, sudden grabs, total loss of technique. A strong swimmer might get flustered too, sure, but they recover. They know what to do. That’s the difference.

So… What If You Recognize Yourself Here?

Well, good news: all of these signs? They’re fixable. Seriously. Swimming's a skill – not some innate talent you either have or don’t. I was a mess in the water until my mid-20s. Couldn't do a proper breaststroke, freaked out in open water, and once I even accidentally elbowed a lifeguard (don’t ask).

If you’re reading this and thinking “Oh crap, that’s me,” don’t stress. Start slow, work on breath control, get comfy in the water, and ask for help. There's no shame in taking a lesson or ten – even Olympic swimmers have coaches.

The real risk isn't being a weak swimmer. It's pretending you're not.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.