Ingrid Hynes, Sheila Pope, and Heather Rudolph, nicknamed by our lifeguards as the "Backstroke Ladies," are senior swimmers who found connection and rehabilitation, and have overcome a lot in a short time. Now they have their sights set on the June Big Swim for Coastguard NZ.

Ingrid Hynes, 71, started coming to the pool with her late husband, who lived with Alzheimer's and found peace floating with a pool noodle. The pool became her weekly reset too, and fast became a place for connection.

Sheila Pope, 72 (and three quarters), joined Heather after some gentle convincing. She arrived not wanting to get her hair wet and couldn't swim a stroke. Now she's swimming 40 lengths and setting new goals.

Heather Rudolph, 72, came to the pool for rehabilitation for spinal and back injuries. Walking a kilometre can be a challenge. Swimming one? That's another story entirely.

A year ago, the two of them started in the comfort of the shallow learner's pool. When the lane layout changed, the 50-metre pool seemed like a crazy idea. They hesitated, then one of the lifeguards, Janette, gave them the nudge they needed. Sometimes the right encouragement at the right moment changes everything.

It took six months to build to 40 lengths of 25m per session. They did it by holding each other accountable. If one was flagging, the other two were already at the pool. No one gets to skip easily when the group is counting on you.

This June, they've signed up for Coastguard NZ's Big Swim Challenge, each aiming to swim 10 kilometres across the month, increasing their sessions to 1km twice a week. They joined to challenge themselves and to show others what's possible, no matter your age or swimming ability.

Why do they swim backstroke? It's not a style choice so much as a practical one. Breathing is easier on your back in your 70s. But for Sheila, who arrived at this pool having never swum a single lap, backstroke was an easy introduction into the water.

They’ve formed special connections along the way, with the staff, the café for their non-negotiable after-swim coffee, a reward for their hard work, and the variety of different swimmers at the facility.

A memory that stood out: one morning, they arrived to find the pool buzzing with a large school group.

"We were nervous at first, a bunch of oldies strutting out in our togs."

Instead, they wandered over and found a group of young kids with a guitar in hand. The kids played a tune just for them. The ladies stood there, listening and grinning. "In the end we both got a really great experience." Two very different generations, both surprised by the other.

Ingrid’s husband also used to love coming to the facility, watching the babies in swim classes, chatting with the instructors and familiar faces. The pool was a place he could move freely when other places were becoming difficult.

Everyone here is on their own journey. No one judges that, and that's a really empowering thing to be a part of.

The next goal? Freestyle, here they come.

Article added: Friday 29 May 2026