Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. a joint
    • ex. After the long hike, the joints in my knees felt sore.
  2. endurance
    • ex. He can finish his exercises without stopping because he has high endurance.
  3. overdo
    • ex. You might overdo an activity when you feel excited.
  4. warm up
    • ex. It’s important to warm up before a workout session.
  5. hydrated
    • ex. Outdoor workers stay hydrated by drinking water regularly while working in hot weather.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines has advice for older swimmers and for people starting swimming again. Gaines, 66, won three gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and became famous for explaining swimming on TV. He says swimming is good for people of all ages because the water supports your body and is gentle on your joints.

To help swimmers return safely to swimming, he encourages them to be patient and build endurance slowly. Gaines warns not to overdo the first workout. A good starting plan is 200 yards. Swim 25 yards, rest until your heart slows, and repeat this eight to ten times. He also suggests that swimmers warm up by doing simple stretches and moving their shoulders. He adds that tired muscles are normal, but real pain is a sign to stop and change your workout.

Finally, Gaines reminds swimmers to stay hydrated, even in the water, because exercise can make you lose water. Using small equipment like paddles can also make swimming more enjoyable. Gaines swims six days a week and says the sport can feel like meditation, helping both the body and mind.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Swimming

  • In your opinion, is swimming an effective workout? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Gaines encourages swimmers to build endurance slowly and not overdo the first workout. What do you think happens when someone doesn’t build endurance slowly and overdoes exercise? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, is it important for your city/town to have public pools? Why or why not? Discuss.

Physical Activities for Older Adults

  • Gaines, 66, still swims six days a week and says swimming is good for people of all ages. What do you think about older people continuing to do sports such as swimming? Discuss.
  • What activities in your community help older people stay active (ex. walking groups in the park, exercise classes)? Discuss.
  • If you could do a sport for a long time, even at an older age, what sport would you choose? Discuss.