JOPLIN, MO.--- You would think after 57 years, Gary Bandy would of learned how to swim by now.
"I grew up in Southeast Kansas you can't get any further from oceans than Southeast Kansas and Southwest Missouri. It never came up," states Gary Bandy, KSN Chief Meteorologist.
Suzanne Nelson is, "About as old as Gary." She too never learned how to swim, but has a very good reason.
"When I was in high school and swimming was offered. It was second hour and I already spent the morning doing my hair and makeup," states Nelson.
So the two decided to take swimming lessons at Calypso in Joplin. Gary's first lesson was learning to doggy paddle.
"I can drive a car, predict weather, and I can tell you what hit the top 40 in 1978, but I can't swim," states Gary.
Suzanne had progressed past the dog paddle and got in the deep end of the pool. She started learning the freestyle stroke. The patient teacher is Lauren Cohenour and she says when the Olympics start up, so do the interest in swimming.
"I've been told swimming is not a real sport, so when the Olympics come on you see what Michael Phelps and all of them are able to do. People realize it's a sport and get interested in it," states Cohenour.
So Gary then progress to the noodle and learned how to float.
"The noodle was my best friend. I'm thinking of taking him home," says Gary.
After the noodling 101 it was time to learn hot to tread water and Suzanne was learning how to breathe correctly.
"Compared to Gary, maybe I do know how to swim a little bit. We had the dog paddle down before I got here," says Suzanne.
After more than an hour the results are in.
"Suzanne was more advanced that she thought she was going to be. Gary was the level he said he was at. He made some awesome progress," states Cohenour.
"I'm coming for you Phelps," says Gary.
Yeah right, Gary Bandy.
"I grew up in Southeast Kansas you can't get any further from oceans than Southeast Kansas and Southwest Missouri. It never came up," states Gary Bandy, KSN Chief Meteorologist.
Suzanne Nelson is, "About as old as Gary." She too never learned how to swim, but has a very good reason.
"When I was in high school and swimming was offered. It was second hour and I already spent the morning doing my hair and makeup," states Nelson.
So the two decided to take swimming lessons at Calypso in Joplin. Gary's first lesson was learning to doggy paddle.
"I can drive a car, predict weather, and I can tell you what hit the top 40 in 1978, but I can't swim," states Gary.
Suzanne had progressed past the dog paddle and got in the deep end of the pool. She started learning the freestyle stroke. The patient teacher is Lauren Cohenour and she says when the Olympics start up, so do the interest in swimming.
"I've been told swimming is not a real sport, so when the Olympics come on you see what Michael Phelps and all of them are able to do. People realize it's a sport and get interested in it," states Cohenour.
So Gary then progress to the noodle and learned how to float.
"The noodle was my best friend. I'm thinking of taking him home," says Gary.
After the noodling 101 it was time to learn hot to tread water and Suzanne was learning how to breathe correctly.
"Compared to Gary, maybe I do know how to swim a little bit. We had the dog paddle down before I got here," says Suzanne.
After more than an hour the results are in.
"Suzanne was more advanced that she thought she was going to be. Gary was the level he said he was at. He made some awesome progress," states Cohenour.
"I'm coming for you Phelps," says Gary.
Yeah right, Gary Bandy.
