Family Fun n
Take the plunge in 2018! Dawn Kingsford dives into the history books to discover the social
revolution behind the rise in popularity of swimming… Take the plunge in 2018 and you’ll experience absolute freedom – a factor that makes swimming the nation’s most popular pastime, second only to walking. But dive a little deeper and you’ll realise that attitudes, attire and facilities have all had to change to make this an activity for all.
Gone are the days when being dunked in the water could condemn you as a witch, gone too is the need for women to emerge from a bathing machine (invented in Margate) to retain their dignity. Certainly, bathing has had its critics, with many fearing it spread disease and immorality!
That historic poolside hesitation and the slow delivery of indoor pools – the first opening in 1828 – continued a reluctance in society to swim that lasted well into the 19th century, especially among women. Indeed, the Olympic
Committee saw fit to introduce the sport in 1896, but not for women until 1912. Happily, today, its recognised health benefits mean we are all encouraged to swim from an early age, with more than 22% of adults and 50% of young people taking the plunge on a regular basis in one or more of the 4,500 council and commercial pools across the country. The activity is now one of the most accommodating and inclusive pursuits, enjoyed alone or as a family, by mums-to-be, children, the elderly, disabled, over-weight and the more competitive among us.
In fact, few activities shape up better than swimming, offering known benefits for both body and mind, and less punishment to the joints.
Anti-fog goggles, nose clips, full-face snorkel masks, and the replacement of woollen costumes with lycra have all
further helped dismiss any relunctance to swim, with waterproof gadgets that measure laps, calories and heart rate appealing to those who choose to challenge themselves, even when on their own. So, make a resolution for 2018 and book a lesson, and get in the swim!
Bathing Facts Health benefits
• Regular swimming helps reduce heart disease, stroke and type-2 diabetes. • Sixty minutes of breaststroke burns 585 calories, backstroke 540, and the butterfly a healthy 784.
• Swimming cuts your risk of dying early by up to 50% compared to running, walking or doing nothing.
Bathing facts
War-time shortages in 1943 led the US government to call for a 10% reduction in fabric in swimsuits, resulting in the first two-piece
Knights in the Middle Ages were required to swim in armour to prove their resolve
John Arthur Trudgen introduced the front crawl to England in 1873
Courtesy of Swim England Library and Historical Archive
Captain Matthew Webb was the first to swim the Channel in 1875. His time of 21 hours and 45 minutes remained unbeaten for 36 years
Mid Kent Living 23
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