Swimmer's Daily

  • 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.

  • Read for instance Times Live and iol

    The loved ones of missing Midmar Mile swimmer, Herman “Thabo” van Straten, are struggling to come to terms with his disappearance during the race at the weekend.

    “It doesn’t feel real,” his fiancée, Shené Jones, told The Mercury on Monday. “I’m trying to make myself believe that he’s in a hospital somewhere.”

    According to sport24, a police dog appears to have identified the general area where the 43-year-old businessman went missing on Saturday.

    Udain led the police to an area near the finish line at around 16:00 on Monday.

    The dog uses its sense of smell to pick up gases released by bodies underwater. It then swims in a circle to mark the area for divers to search.

    According to City Presse, Van Straten’s fiancée is upset with how the organisers handled the situation on Saturday.

    Shane Jones said she was “pushed around from pillar to post” when trying to report that Van Straten was missing.

    According to for instance Times Live, her sister took to Twitter on Sunday to dispute reports that the organisers were concerned by the fate of her sister’s fiancée.

    “It’s disgusting u have a swimmer missing & done nothing to locate him. Not one rep from u have come to update the family. [sic]”

    According to The Citizen, police said yesterday that the search for Van Straten would be called off today, if he was not found.