Swimmer's Daily

  • The Finnish National Board of Education has mandated that primary school children participate in municipally-funded swimming lessons. From first to fourth grade, the pupils learn to feel comfortable in the water and learn basic swimming skills. In fifth to ninth grade, the goal of instruction is to develop the pupils’ swimming technique and learn basic lifesaving skills.

    The Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation (FSL) recommendation in order for children to meet this Education Board requirement is six hours of swimming instruction per academic year.

    The need for swimming instruction in Finland has clearly risen, but the central region of Pirkanmaa is just one of Finland’s areas where supply doesn’t meet demand. Some schools aren’t able to meet the six-hour recommendation and must make do with more infrequent instruction. The FSL is concerned that municipal savings may even be reflected in increased numbers of drownings in the future.

    Read YLE

    Photo by mikecogh

  • The capital already has Stockholm Open in tennis and a Diamond League athletics gala. Now a third major event is added, to be launched in Eriksdalsbadet in March/April 2016.

    – Our ambition is that it will be Europe’s most attractive event on long course. We will wager big prize money in order to attract the very best European swimmers, says Bengt Jönsson, CEO of Swedish Swimming to Radiosporten.

    (more…)

  • There are already human-powered devices that allow you to walk on water, plus there are electric motor-powered stand-up paddleboards. The WaterBlade, however, appears to bridge the gap between the two. It’s a floating platform that you stand on to “walk” across the water, but it also has a motor to help make things easier.
    Designed by architect Gameli Cruz, the WaterBlade is intended mainly to be a fitness device that works the legs, abs and butt. Although the pictured prototype is made from EPS foam, plans call for the commercial version to have a heavy-duty inflatable body.
    A 12-volt, 624-watt lithium-ion battery delivers power to a 0.85-HP electric trolling motor, located at the end of a fiberglass shaft extending beneath the device. That motor delivers 55 lb (25 kg) of thrust, allowing users to actually make some progress across the surface instead of just waddling back and forth on the spot.

    Read Gizmag, WaterBlade and Kickstarter

  • The new LEN Headquarters have been officially opened on Friday in Nyon, Switzerland, in the presence of FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione, LEN President Paolo Barelli and Philippe Leuba, Minister of the Department of Economy and Sports of the Canton Vaud.

    LEN Logo (L to R) Paolo Barelli LEN President; Philippe Leuba Geneva State Councillor; Stephanie Suard Dancet SUI SUARD – CCHE Architecture SA LEN new Office Opening Nyon Switzerland SUI 22 Mat 2015 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia
    LEN_NewOfficeCH_2015/GScala_DBM
    Ribbon Cut (L to R) Julio Maglione FINA President; Paolo Barelli LEN President; Philippe Leuba Geneva State Councillor LEN new Office Opening Nyon Switzerland SUI 22 Mat 2015 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia
    LEN Logo Unveiling (L to R) Julio Maglione FINA President ; Philippe Leuba Geneva State Councillor; Paolo Barelli LEN President LEN new Office Opening Nyon Switzerland SUI 22 Mat 2015 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia
    Paolo Barelli LEN President LEN new Office Opening Nyon Switzeland SUI 22 Mat 2015 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia
    LEN Logo Paolo Barelli LEN President LEN new Office Opening Nyon Switzerland SUI 22 Mat 2015 Photo Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia

    The brand new LEN Office has opened its doors in the beautiful Swiss city of Nyon, becoming the 56th major sport governing body settling in the Canton of Vaud. After the Bureau’s decision to move the office to Switzerland – where LEN is registered as a legal entity –, the LEN Executive conducted a thorough search to find the proper place and Nyon offered fine conditions and a very convenient location.

    The inauguration event was attended by FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione, who said he felt honoured to be present in such an important moment for the European Aquatic Family. In his speech Dr. Maglione underlined how important role LEN plays in the aquatics world. “Europe’s 52 nations and the value of their athletes make this continent a really important member of FINA” he said, adding: “We welcome LEN in Switzerland and, I’m sure that the close proximity with FINA shall strengthen our already great relationship.”

    Philippe Leuba, Minister of the Department of Economy and Sports of the Canton Vaud was proud that LEN had joined the circle of the globe’s leading sport organisations, becoming the 56th governing body settling in the canton, besides, among others, the International Olympic Committee and FINA. “We were really excited by the opportunity that LEN chose us and our team was and are always available to provide you whatever is needed” the minister declared. He also enabled a joint agreement which shall ensure financial support for the newcomers, as a strong sign of the canton’s appreciation.

    LEN President Paolo Barelli paid thanks for Dr. Maglione and Mr. Leuba for celebrating this special occasion together and was grateful for the Minister for his cooperation to secure the top floor for LEN in the brand new house and for his staff’s continuous assistance. Mr. Barelli praised the ever-great relationship with Dr. Maglione and FINA. He was also thankful for the previous generation of leaders in the LEN Family, the current members of the Bureau, the LEN Staff and all committee and commission members for their support which made possible to take this important step and set up a new headquarters in Nyon.

    “Now we turned a new page, and after going all the way through decades via London, Rome and Luxembourg, finally we arrived home here, where the most important federations have their head offices, too” the LEN President said. “I’m really optimistic about our future as we shouldn’t forget: this office is not about walls, chairs and tables. It’s about the persons working here and it’s about the 52 member federations we are working for. LEN is about them, this makes our family strong and successful”, Mr. Barelli concluded.

    Press release from LEN, photos courtesy of LEN/Giorgio Scala

  • Nicole Kramer wants to see children conquer their fears.

    It warms her heart to see it happen in the pool.

    That’s why Kramer, a Quincy native and former Olympic swimmer, has opened Nicole’s Swim School to teach private swimming lessons at the Sheridan Swim and Fitness Club.

    “Seeing them overcome their fears and anxieties, to see them go from being afraid to blow bubbles to jumping off the board and see them become confident swimmers, that’s what it’s all about,” Kramer said.

    Read HERALD-WHIG

  • A swimming instructor has been arrested, accused of molesting two 6-year-olds during swim class.

    Francisco De Aragon, 26, was arrested Wednesday and is facing charges of sexual assault and lewd and lascivious behavior on a victim less than 12-years-old.

    De Aragon was in bond court Thursday. The judge ordered that he be held on no bond.

    See CBS Miami

  • Dutch European 10km Open Water Champion, Sharon van Rouwendaal talks about her decision to swim both pool and open water events. Sharon also talks about her approach to both and her plans for Kazan.

  • Everyone’s probably seen or done it at least once at the pool: the “hey watch this!” trick, such as when two New York City men first took a series of fast, deep breaths, then held their breath underwater in 2011. Both drowned.

    It’s not unusual, the New York City health officials report.

    They call it “dangerous underwater breath-holding behavior” or DUBB for short. Other people may call it just plain dumb, but in fact most of the cases involved serious training. The victims may not have realized just how much danger they were putting themselves in.

    Read NBC News and CDC

    Photo by jayhem

  • She is recovering from shoulder surgery but Olympic swimmer Belinda Hocking says she will be back in the pool to vie for a spot at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio – which if she qualifies, will be her last.

    Read ABC