Born2Swim

Born2Swim is a network of swimming schools for babies and children in Tashkent and Samarkand. Lessons start at 3 months: in Swim Baby, a child under 3 is in the water with mum or dad (up to 6 pairs per group), and in Swim Kids, children aged 3–7 swim in groups of up to 6. A lesson lasts 45 minutes. There are split sessions where a coach works with one child, and some branches also run mini groups of 4 and one-to-one lessons for infants from 2 months. Tashkent has five children's pools, on Nukus Street, near Druzhba Narodov, on Parkent Street, in Yunusabad and in the Parisien residential complex, and a sixth has opened in Samarkand. For children from 7 and adults, PRO by Born2Swim runs in the 50-metre pool of the Palace of Water Sports: beginner training, a competitive team and adult groups. The school describes itself as a regional representative of the International Baby Swimming Association and says it has taught more than 5,000 children to swim. A medical certificate is required before the first lesson: from a paediatrician for a child under one, from a paediatrician and a dermatologist for older children, and form 086 for children from 7 and adults. A parent who goes into the water with a baby needs a certificate from a dermatologist and a gynaecologist (mothers) or a general practitioner and a dermatologist (fathers).