Swimmer's Daily

  • Incredible video via 22 words

    In 1961, the first person to ever be killed by the East German police as he attempted to escape was shot as he swam across the Spree, a river along a portion of the erstwhile Berlin wall. Over the years, hundreds of others tried it, too, risking death by drowning if not police. And, though onlookers on the western bank encouraged them, no one was allowed to help escapees until they actually reached the shore.

    Almost 30 years later, in 1988, three men and a woman took this life-or-death challenge and a tourist happened to be there filming. It is incredible footage…

    http://youtu.be/K7CWajaOx4E

  • uk_sport_logoRead BBC and British Swimming

    British Swimming has notified UK Sport of its intention to appeal the withdrawal of funding from the women’s Olympic sports of Synchronised Swimming and Water Polo.

    UK Sport announced the decision to remove funding as a result of its annual investment review of summer Olympic and Paralympic sports, and British Swimming has responded by formally requesting the opportunity to make representations to UK Sport Board.

    Commenting on the decision, British Swimming Chief Executive David Sparkes said: “It’s vital we have the opportunity to engage with UK Sport once again as we look to save these team sports from simply becoming a chapter in a history book rather than a lasting, Olympic legacy.

    “Both sports have not only demonstrated real performance improvements leading up to 2012, which was reflected by UK Sport last year through increased funding, they have both made further progress in 2013 as acknowledged by UK Sport. They have also driven interest and participation with clubs across the country having to adjust to much greater demand for places.”

  • Guest post by Miles Wiseman

    Drowning can happen any time and surprisingly even in shallow water. Knowing what you are required to do to rescue a drowning person safely helps save lives. A simple process to carry out when rescuing a drowning person is, reach, throw, row and go, in that order. However, the first thing you should always do immediately you see someone drowning is call for help.

    Image courtesy of David, CC BY 2.0
    Image courtesy of David, CC BY 2.0

    Dial 911

    Call the rescue emergency number to report the incident as soon as possible. An adult can struggle in water for about three minutes but a child can only last less than thirty seconds. Therefore, action should be taken very fast to rescue a drowning person. You can also scream to attract the attraction of people who can join to assist in rescuing the victim.

    (more…)

  • A quick GoPro clip of myself and Linda Pagenelli playing around with scooters in Domina Bay, Sharm el Sheikh.

    Freediving With Scooters – Sharm el Sheikh from Jacques de Vos on Vimeo.

  • Not swimming relevant per se, but wow these action cams are tough!

    Camera falls from a sky diving airplane and lands on my property in my pig pen.
    I found the camera 8 months later and viewed this video.

  • “The Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy offers a learn to swim program for children of all ages. Started in 2005 by 4 time Olympic Gold Medalist Lenny Krayzelburg, “our core purpose is to teach and inspire children to be water safe”. Since our inception we have taught thousands of kids’ water safety and the importance of knowing how to swim.”

    Lenny Crayzelburg Swim Academy Promo from JCC Dallas on Vimeo.

  • “Brittany Elmslie is a 19-year-old Australian swimmer who won a gold and two silver medals in relays at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Like most swimmers she works hard. Really hard. This video looks at the day in the life of a swimmer aiming to be the world’s best.”

  • This video was created to inspire and encourage young students in their fundraising efforts for their new school playground. All the best in your Eaglethon!

  • Read Detroit Free Press

    The swimming instructor in charge of the class where an East Detroit High School student drowned last year opted to change into his swimming clothes rather than jump into the pool when he learned that a boy was struggling in the water, according to Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith.

    The instructor also was not certified as a swim teacher and was in the bleachers — not in the pool where he should have been — when students in the remedial swimming class ran to tell him that 14-year-old KeAir Swift was in trouble, Smith said. When the instructor went to check on the boy, KeAir was already at the bottom of the pool, but instead of taking action, the instructor left to get changed.