2020 has been a year of uncertainty for people all over the world, and swimming is no exception. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in lockdowns in March and April that limited or completely took away pool access for many swimmers across the globe, and it’s looking like more lockdowns are coming.
What’s Happening
Countries like France, Germany and the United Kingdom have announced increasing restrictions and lockdowns to help slow the spread of the pandemic. This most likely means no more restaurants, movie theaters and social gatherings, and unfortunately also means pools and gyms have to close their doors.
Related: What Swimmers Should Know About the Coronavirus
Related: How Swimmers Can Be Mentally Strong in a Pandemic
This shouldn’t be that much of a surprise at this point, but it’s still disappointing. Swimming is the only reliable form of physical activity for many people, and it’s crushing to think that they will be out of the water for months at a time.
Related: Social Distancing 101 for Swimmers
Of course, these lockdowns are for the greater good and help reduce the rate of transmission, lessening the impact on the healthcare system.
You may be thinking: If my pool shuts down, what can I do about it? What workouts can I do instead? You’ve come to the right place!
What You Can Do
If your pools have been shut down like they just were in the United Kingdom, it’s important for you to take action so they don’t stay closed forever.
Related: How to Endure the Pandemic as a Swimmer
In a recent statement, Swim England Chief Executive Jane Nickerson said that the Prime Minister’s latest coronavirus announcement was certainly inevitable, and that she hopes the lockdown measures cause Covid-19 cases to fall.
Nickerson went on to say that there needs to be clarification on the types of pools and leisure centers affected. She encouraged swimmers to sign petitions to open leisure centers.
If you’re upset that pools are closed, you’re not alone. Make your voice heard by signing Swim England’s #OpenOurPools petition. >
How to Work Out Without a Pool
If you’re looking for a way to stay in shape during your quarantine, give dryland training a try!
The MySwimPro app has training programs and daily workouts for swimmers that you can do at home with or without equipment. You can even build your own workouts from our library of almost 200 exercises!
Related: How Swimmers Can Work Out Without a Pool
Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced swimmer, our dryland workouts are a fantastic way to stay in shape and on track toward your swimming goals. Try the app free for 30 days >
Depending on where you live and the rate of community spread of the infection, you may or may not experience any shutdowns. We recommend staying up to date with your local government’s regulations and doing everything you can to stay safe, healthy and socially distant.
Join the MySwimPro Global Community Facebook group for extra accountability and support. We’re all in this together!
3 Comments
My pool has been closed since early March. No swimming for me for 8 long months and no sogn of reopening. Walking has been my substitute. It doesn’t measure up.
It’s not the pool but the dressing room. Pools can stay open if social distancing and masks are worn. In a chlorinated pool the chance of Covid spreading is almost zero. One flip turn and any Covid in the sinuses would be washed out and killed. If people keep their distance four to a lane should be safe. In the locker room the lockers should not be used and social distance practiced as well as masks. If there is enough ventilation to keep showers from steaming up the locker room there should be enough ventilation to prevent spread of Covid. Yes crowding should be avoided but this appears possible as well as good social distancing. With good practices I do not think pools need to close.
I wasn’t angry that the pools were closed but I was upset and I didn’t understand why they couldn’t find a solution to keep them open. I didn’t take action and have to admit that I struggled to get back into swimming some time after I learned that pools had re-opened.
Montreal, Quebec is quite lucky. It found a solution. The community pools are open and free for everyone who has paid a minimal amount as membership in the community centre. The lines are enlarged with a maximum of 4 swimmers per lane. The downside is that reservations have to be made at 6 AM each day for the following week. And now the sessions are only 40 minutes. But it is fantastic for the swimmers for whom those are not downsides.
One other option I am aware of is the Olympic pool under the Olympic tower. One books once a week, Fridays at noon for the following week. You’ve got to be quick on that keyboard or that smart phone. LOL It costs what it used to cost before the pandemic and one can bid on a limited number of one hour time slots in which you have a lane to yourself.
Thank you for this activist video. I love your sense of humor, too. I have to check the other links and still have to look at one that I saved about why we are safe from COVID-19 in chlorinated pool water (or something like that).