KNIGHTDALE, N.C. (WNCN) — Jhazmere Preston spent this summer conquering a significant hurdle.

"I first came, I was nervous to be honest with you, but now I feel more comfortable and confident," said Preston.

He began his journey to learn how to swim at the age of eight.

"My cousin took me to a cookout and she was trying to teach me how to swim," he said.

Preston says everyone got out of the water to eat and that's when he attempted to swim alone.

"I got to the diving board and jumped off the diving board into the water, mouth open, not knowing how to swim … and I went to the bottom of the pool," he said. "Someone had to jump in and pull me out of the pool and do chest compressions, mouth-to-mouth resuscitate me, so it was a dramatic experience." • Jhazmere Preston as a child. (Photo

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