It was the first day of swimming class, and Tanya and Siya couldn't stop grinning.

"I can't believe we're actually doing this!" Tanya said, bouncing on her toes by the pool.

Siya nodded, her eyes wide with excitement. "I've been waiting forever to learn how to swim! I even wore my lucky goggles."

The pool sparkled in the morning sun, and the girls tightened their swim caps, ready to splash in. Coach Rina stood at the edge, blowing her whistle.

"Alright, class! Let's begin with the basics today. No diving, just some fun with kickboards and noodles," she smiled.

Tanya and Siya giggled as they held onto their colorful foam noodles, kicking their legs in the water.

"This is so much fun!" Tanya squealed.

"I feel like a fish!" Siya laughed, making bubble sounds underwater.

Over the next few weeks, they learned floating, paddling, and even a few strokes.

"Front crawl today!" Coach Rina announced one morning.

"I'm nervous," Tanya whispered.

"You got this," Siya said, giving her a splashy high five.

They practiced side by side, cheering each other on. Sometimes they messed up and gulped water, but they always ended up laughing.

Then came a big day.

Coach Rina called everyone to the shallow end. "Today, you'll try swimming without support. No floaties, no noodles, no life jackets."

Siya's eyes sparkled. "This is it! The real test!"

Tanya bit her lip. "No floaties at all?"

"You've all learned the basics," Coach Rina said gently. "Just try your best. I'll be right here."

One by one, the kids gave it a go. Some splashed, some sank, some swam.

When it was Siya's turn, she took a deep breath.

"You got this," Tanya whispered.

Siya pushed off the wall, arms paddling, legs kicking.

She moved forward - really swimming! "I'm doing it!" she shouted, beaming as she reached the other side.

Tanya clapped loudly. "Siya, you did it! That was amazing!"

But when it was Tanya's turn, her heart pounded. She looked at the water, then at Coach Rina, and then at her friend.

"Okay? I can do this," she told herself.

She pushed off.

Splash. Kick. Arm. Gulp.

"Oh no!" Tanya flailed, water splashing in her face. She stopped, coughing.

"It's okay," Coach Rina said, helping her up gently. "Take a breath."

Tanya felt tears sting her eyes. "I couldn't do it?"

Siya came running over. "You were so close!"

Tanya shook her head. "But I didn't make it like you did."

Coach Rina knelt beside her. "Tanya, do you know the saying: Winners never quit, and quitters never win?"

Tanya blinked. "I've heard that?"

"It means you keep trying until you succeed," the coach said with a warm smile. "Swimming without support is a big step. It's okay to be scared. It's okay to need more than one try."

Siya nodded. "Remember how I couldn't float at first? But I kept trying."

Tanya looked at them, then at the water again.

She took a deep breath. "Okay? I'll try again."

Coach Rina clapped. "That's the spirit!"

This time, Tanya moved slower. She focused on kicking, not panicking. She let her arms move like they'd practiced.

She didn't reach the end. But she swam halfway before stopping.

"I? I did some of it!" she said, a small smile forming.

"Yes, you did!" Siya cheered. "You're getting there!"

The next class, Tanya tried again.

This time, she swam a bit further.

And the next time, even more.

Until finally - on a sunny Tuesday - Tanya swam the full length without stopping.

"I did it!" she shouted, her arms splashing joyfully.

Siya jumped up and down. "You DID it!"

Coach Rina gave her a thumbs-up. "See what happens when you don't give up?"

Tanya beamed. "I feel like a dolphin!"

Siya grinned. "You look like one too!"

They high-fived, wet hands slapping together.

From that day on, Tanya knew something important: It's okay to not succeed right away. What matters most is trying again.

And Siya learned too - that cheering for your friends can feel just as good as winning yourself.

Every week, they got better and faster, racing each other, diving for rings, and floating like sea stars.

But they never forgot that big day - the day one girl swam and the other almost gave up, but didn't.

Because in the end, both were winners.