A special report on the women who are battling the cultural barriers stopping them from swimming.
Research shared with ITV News shows people from ethnic communities are far less likely to be able to swim than white people.
From pools reluctant to allow women to wear more modest swimming costumes, to racist attitudes held by teachers, discrimination is excluding many.
And there are now growing calls for governing bodies to finally take action to address the issues, as Sangita Lal explains.