BBC presenter reveals why he never swam as a child

BBC radio presenter Rena Annobil talks about her “love-hate” relationship with swimming as she prepares for an epic challenge for Children in Need.

Celebrating South Asian art, culture and music, Rena launches her show on Monday night on BBC Local radio stations in the South and South East.

He lives in Berkshire and is one of BBC Radio Berkshire’s five-strong team. Thousand Mile Challenge For Children in Need.

But there were also years when Rena did not swim.

He said: “I was a slightly overweight kid, always picked last in teams, and was very conscious of being seen in my swimsuit.

“I look back now and think, why did this cause me to stop swimming for years?

“It shouldn’t have happened but it happened, so I couldn’t go for years and I just needed the right swimsuit.”

Rena believes things have changed now with more options available.

He said: “For example, if you are a headscarved person, you can buy a swimsuit that covers you. If you feel more comfortable, you can go to women-only sessions.

“There are options and I don’t want anyone to feel that way anymore, swimming is not for me.”

Rena is training for the challenge, in which BBC radio stations across the UK come together to collectively swim 1,000 miles, with each station team attempting to cover 24 miles between 4 and 8 November.

He said: “I think what I have is stamina, I can keep going.

“It doesn’t look pretty, but I can go for a long time.”

Statistics show that participation in swimming is significantly lower among people from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds.

Figures from Sport England reveal that around 95% of black adults and 93% of Asian adults in the UK cannot swim.

Rena believes there are a variety of reasons why people in the South Asian community have historically not learned to swim, but says some things have changed.

He said: “I think for people in my generation it was a financial situation, like our parents had just arrived here and didn’t have the time or money for swimming lessons.

“But now I think South Asians are much more aware of the importance of swimming and sports, so more parents are sending their children to lessons.

“Also, depending on your religious background, you don’t want to be seen in a swimsuit in a mixed-gender setting, so I think that’s a barrier as well, and that’s why I think the different types of swimsuits are amazing. It’s great that there are women-only sessions out there and more people are aware of them.” I feel like it should happen.”

As a mother of three daughters, Rena jumped at the opportunity to join the swim team and raise money for Children in Need, but she also wanted to send a message to her daughters.

“I want them to know that their mother may not be a very good swimmer technically, but I’m taking on the challenge and I’m going to push myself and it’s never too late to do that,” she said.

Rena also chats to radio listeners about the upcoming challenge and her training, which she hopes will also encourage one or two of them to try it out.

“I would absolutely love it if anything I say or do or the content in my show inspires other people to take up swimming; I think that would be amazing,” she added.

The BBC Radio Berkshire swim team includes Rena Annobil, Phil Mercer, Sali Shobowale, Katherine Bett and Ben Pritchard.

You can listen to Rena Annobil on Mondays between 19:00 – 22:00.