Come on in (the water's lovely).

[Gordon]

I swim regularly at the local pool, at least twice a week, and sometimes with grandchildren in tow: and at my own pace, and with more enthusiasm than technique (or speed). I've often noticed the 'serious' swimmers ploughing up and down within their lanes, with robot-like efficiency and no smiles.

Loved this piece from the Grauniad giving the perspective of swimming pool etiquette from a lady who describes herself as 'Round. Short. Female. And the wrong side of middle aged, to boot.' Then, at the end, you realise that she has been no ordinary everyday swimmer (like me).

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/10/age-weight-swimming-pool-male-sexist-behaviour-woman

   

[Walter]

I swim regularly at the local pool, at least twice a week, and sometimes with grandchildren in tow: and at my own pace, and with more enthusiasm than technique (or speed). I've often noticed the 'serious' swimmers ploughing up and down within their lanes, with robot-like efficiency and no smiles.

Loved this piece from the Grauniad giving the perspective of swimming pool etiquette from a lady who describes herself as 'Round. Short. Female. And the wrong side of middle aged, to boot.' Then, at the end, you realise that she has been no ordinary everyday swimmer (like me).

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/10/age-weight-swimming-pool-male-sexist-behaviour-woman

 

yes , and that doddery old man over there who cant even hold his own cup of tea took part in the D-Day landings in order to keep us free from tyranny

[Udayana]

Etiquette is not a set of absolute rules but a convention worked out by the people involved so they can all best get along without incidents.

So any group of regular swimmers will evolve rules, this tends to work fine most of the time. Any newcomers will learn the rules after a few swims, and enjoy the swimming just as everyone else does. It is nothing to do with what you look like or how good you are.

I strongly suspect the writer is only making her points in order to have something to write about!

(as a regular lane swimmer over many years and different pools)

[SteveH]

By "swum the English Channel solo", I assume they mean "unsupported", i.e. without a following boat to provide food and drink. It's an impressive feat however it's done.

[Udayana]

By "swum the English Channel solo", I assume they mean "unsupported", i.e. without a following boat to provide food and drink. It's an impressive feat however it's done.

Not sure that is legal. For a swim to be registered you must have a pilot and support boat. "Solo" means one swimmer does the whole distance as opposed to a relay team splitting it between them.