What's it all about?
Swimming
is a competitive Olympic and Paralympic sport, which combines speed,
strength and technique.
Swimming comprises of four competitive strokes; front crawl, backstroke,
breaststroke and butterfly. Swimming events usually take place in
a swimming pool but there are open water events where swimmers can
swim in lakes, rivers, canals and the sea.
Taking part
Anyone can take part in Swimming whatever
ability and age, whether it’s recreationally at a leisure
centre or competitively in club or individual competitions.
Within Kent there is a large number of clubs who provide competitive
swimming training, coaching and opportunities to all ages and abilities.
Including their own 'learn to swim' sections where children can learn
to swim within a club environment and feel part of that club. Most clubs have master sections where adults can swim or you can
book swimming through your local leisure centre for adults and children.
Swimmers are able to compete in competitions from the age of nine
and they can then compete within:
1. Club galas where clubs compete against each other
2. Opens where the swimmer is competing for themselves and can also
take part in team relays.
Try something different; Fin Swimming is a new sport to this country and there's a club based in Edenbridge near Tunbridge Wells.
Get Involved
Please follow this link to find your local club
Make your Big Splash for Sport Relief at the Swimathon Weekend 2012
There is a whole host of reasons to get excited during 2012, with the London Olympic and Paralympic Games making their way to the capital this summer, and the world’s biggest fundraising swim coming to a pool near you this April!
If you want to get in on the action, the Big Splash Mile for Sport Relief, part of the Swimathon Weekend, is a great reason to get in the pool with friends and family and raise money for worthwhile causes at the same time.
Taking place in 650 pools from 27 to 29 April 2012, swimming a mile for Sport Relief really can make a difference to people living incredibly tough lives here in the UK and across the world’s poorest countries.
If you want to go to further lengths for charity, there’s also the chance to tackle the Swimathon 2.5k, 5k or Team 5k challenges to raise vital funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
For more information please visit the Swimathon website or alternatively click here to view the promotional flyer.
Training for the Big Splash or just Swimming for fun, why not visit the British Gas My Swimfit website - your FREE online and pool-side club that provides you with a gym style work-out programme for the pool.
Structure of the sport
As part of British
Swimming, the English Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) governs the
sport in England and is responsible for governing Competitive Swimming,
Diving, Water Polo, Synchronized Swimming and Open Water Swimming.
The ASA is then split into regions and Kent falls into both the South
East Region and the London Region. The London Region consults of all
the Kent London Boroughs such as Beckenham and Bexley and the South
East Region consults of all the Kent Rural Boroughs from Dartford
to Dover.
Main Contact
Aimee Stokes - Kent Swimming Development Officer - 07798 703857 - Aimee.stokes@swimming.org
