Swimmer's Daily

  • Crossing some of the most daunting bodies of water in the world, Vicki Keith set 16 world records and received over 41 awards and honours as a marathon swimmer.

  • Women first competed in swimming at the Olympic Games in Stockholm in 1912, taking part in two events: the 100m freestyle, which was won by Australia’s Fanny Durack, and the 4x100m relay, won by Great Britain’s Belle Moore, Jennie Fletcher, Annie Speirs and Irene Steers. At Antwerp 1920, a third event was introduced onto the programme: the 300m freestyle. Ethelda Bleibtrey, aged just 18 (she was born on 27 February 1902 in Waterford, New York State), raced in, and won, all three!

    Bleibtrey’s story is that of an emancipated woman who made a real difference for all female swimmers in her country. She first took up swimming in 1917 to help her recover from polio. At the time, social convention in the USA dictated that women had to cover up their legs – i.e. wear stockings – when they went swimming. In 1919, at Manhattan Beach, Bleibtrey removed her stockings before going swimming; this was considered a reprehensible act of “nudity” and Bleibtrey was arrested. Her arrest caused public outrage, however, to such an extent that not only was Bleibtrey not sanctioned, but it was also subsequently decided that women could go swimming without having to wear stockings! Bleibtrey was also one of the first women to wear a swimming cap.

    Read Olympic

  • See swimming.org.au

  • “The MySwimPro app gives you all the guidance that any swimmer would really need. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  • After a tumultuous few years and a suspension from his sport, Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte has made some big changes in his life. Now, at age 35, he opens up to TODAY’s Craig Melvin about his struggle with drinking and the possibility of a comeback in Tokyo.

  • When three-time Olympian Brent Hayden left competitive swimming seven years ago, he was headed down a dark path.

    The Canadian suffered from debilitating back spasms and was struggling with depression as he prepared for the London Olympics in 2012. There were times when he couldn’t walk for days in a row and his psychologist was coming to see him up to twice a week.

    Yet during what he calls the worst year of his life, Hayden captured bronze in the 100-metre freestyle in London, marking Canada’s first-ever medal in the event.

    Then he retired from competitive swimming.

    “For me to win that medal, I think it meant more than most people realized,” Hayden said Wednesday.

    “Without a solution to the back spasms and without an end to the spiral I was going through, I just knew I couldn’t be successful moving forward.”

    For years, Hayden pursued other endeavours, including photography, swim clinics and launching a clothing line with his wife, Nadina Zarifeh.

    Now, the 36-year-old from Mission, B.C., is jumping back in the pool. Hayden announced Wednesday he is coming out of retirement and has already been training in Vancouver for several weeks.

    Read Airdrie Today and Houston Chronicle

     

  • This success story explores the history of Racker and Ithaca College’s collaboration to bring swim and other recreational development for both Racker students and IC students.

    Since 1976, when Racker was known as The Special Children’s Center, students enrolled in the inclusive preschool and daycare have attended The Swim Program facilitated by students from
    Ithaca College’s Therapeutic Recreation Program. Dr. Sarah Rich – a now retired professor of Therapeutic Recreation at Ithaca College – and Jody Scriber – former Director of Preschool & Clinical Education at Racker – set the foundation for this long lasting partnership between Racker and Ithaca College. This collaboration has withstood over 40 years and two agency name changes! When The Swim Program first started, Racker sent kids they served with Cerebral Palsy and other physical disabilities to IC. As part of their course curriculum, the college students learned how to create lesson plans catered specifically to the preschool children. As Racker’s preschool evolved and became fully integrated, all of the children with and without disabilities within the program have enjoyed getting to know their college buddies. Not only does this inclusive environment benefit the kids from our preschool, but it’s also a benefit for their college swim buddies, many who might have not grown up getting to know people with disabilities.

    The Swim Program is incorporated into the class Understanding Disability, currently taught by Professor Joanie Groome – who first started her involvement in the early years of The Swim
    Program as a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Sarah Rich

  • Olympic Champion and WR holder Adam Peaty discusses the ISL ahead of his debut in Budapest.