Swansea's Pat Swadling isn't your average aged care resident.

Three mornings a week she leaves her Southern Cross Care apartment and walks to Swansea Pool to swim laps and do exercises.

Ms Swadling has been doing this for five years.

Her efforts paid off recently when the Royal Life Saving Society awarded Ms Swadling her Grey Medallion.

She was one of 23 elderly people to complete the over-55s course at Swansea Pool.

The course tested water safety knowledge, resuscitation and emergency care, swimming techniques and personal survival and lifesaving skills.

It was the first time Ms Swadling was quizzed on these skills.

"I've spent a lot of my life in the water, but I've never had any teachings," she said.

"As a kid I used to go with my friends to Long Jetty and we'd spend all day swimming there."

Several decades later, Ms Swadling doesn't show signs of leaving the water.

"I think I'm going to grow a tail and stay in there forever; I love it," she said.