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As British swimmers leapt from the London 2012 starting blocks, they should have been doing so in full confidence.
But their performance was one of the few lowlights of 2012, with the team securing three medals instead of UK Sport’s target of at least five.
“We put a lot of pressure on ourselves,” said Rebecca Adlington, who won two of those medals. “And there is always this fear that if we don’t perform, we will get our funding cut.”
British Swimming’s funding was, indeed, cut by £4m. But it is not just at the elite level swimming has suffered.
Since 2008, grassroots participation has fallen from 3.2 million to 2.9 million a week, while the Amateur Swimming Association says 51% of children aged seven to 11 cannot swim 25m.
What has gone wrong with swimming in Britain?
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Broomhill Pool Trust own survey shows:
• 100% of Ipswich (non-fee) paying secondary Schools have NO on site swimming facilities
• 44% of Ipswich’s secondary Schools never had swimming facilities.
• A further 56% of Ipswich’s secondary Schools lost swimming facilities in the last 30 years.
• Only three of Ipswich secondary Schools have access to their own on site swimming facility, two are fee paying High schools & one is special needs.
• 68% of Ipswich’s Junior/Primary Schools do NOT have on site swimming facilities
• 24% of Ipswich’s Junior & Primary Schools never had swimming facilities.
• A further 44% of Ipswich’s Junior & Primary Schools lost swimming facilities in the last 30 years.
• Only 32% of Ipswich Junior & Primary Schools have access to their own on site swimming facility.
Pools Gone
Claydon High
Kesgrave High
Northgate High
Thurleston High
Westbourne High
Britannia Junior
Castle Hill Junior
Chantry Junior
Cliff Lane
Dale Hall Junior
Gorseland Primary
Hill Side Junior (not in use)
Kesgrave Juniors
Priory Heath Junior
Ranlaegh Junior
Rosehill Juniors
St Mark’s
St Margaret’s
Sidegate Junior
Sproughton Primary
Whitton Junior
Pools still
Ipswich School
Ipswich High School (Woolverstone)
Thomas Wolsey (no access for Thurleston High)
Clifford Road
Gusford
Halifax Junior
Handford Hall
Moreland Junior
Murrayfield Junior
Rushmere Hall
St Johns Junior
St Helen’s
Sidegate Junior
Willows (Downing) Primary
Whitehouse Junior
Never had a Pool
Chantry High
Copleston High
Nacton High (Hollywells)
Stoke High
Brokehall Junior
Pipers Vale
Ravenswood Junior
St Albans High
St Mary’s Junior
St Matthew’s Junior
St Pancreas Junior
Springfield Junior
Sprites Juniors