To be furious at swimming pool regulars who think they own the bloody pool. To the point of kicking a disabled child?

[Sneezecakesmum]

Dont know who I am angrier with. Myself or the middle aged woman swimming in the local pool apparently doing her daily 50 lengths of breast stroke, when we (the interlopers) dared to be in her way and which gave her the right to kick a 5 year old disabled boy in the chest!

FFS she came up behind us so definitely saw us. I was holding a child festooned in buoyancy aids, (so both arms needed) and facing away from her so I didnt see her. The first thing I knew she kicked/or hit me lightly then with the next stroke kicked out strongly and I felt the childs body rock against me. Luckily he is a tough nut and just looked a bit shocked.

AIBU to want to rip her fucking head off? No apology, no acknowledgement despite being fully aware she hit us!

I just stood there like a wimp feeling it was my fault for being in 'her' pool

You know that thing where you do/say nothing at the time, but rage and vent afterwards? Well I am venting!

Joggers say sorry if they accidentally run into you, is swimming different?

Well, when swimming your head is underwater for most of the time so I guess it's a little different. I wouldn't know though, I can barely swim a single length

Or more precisely, say something infinitely reasonable and be torn limb from limb world!

Certainly looks like it from where I'm sitting so I guess it goes both ways.

Owl

I can't swim very well. I think I can lift my lead out of the water though and it sounds like this woman was a better swimmer than you or I.

sarinka

Really?

How odd

brt100 Sat 24-May-14 15:53:12
If she was swimming lengths you shouldn't get in her way, not that getting in her way deserves a kick.

But neither should people think they can do what they like when circumstances aren't right. It sounds like this was a small pool, not set up for lane swimming, during a general use session. Sometimes people just have to accept that it isn't the right time to be powering up and down expecting everyone to get out of the way. Neither should anyone be doing it if they can't see, because that's just stupid and dangerous.

She must have been doing the backwards breast stroke. I hear reverse swimming is gaining in popularity.

I'm a swimmer. And yes I've accidentally kicked people and been kicked. Kicking another swimmer in a busy pool happens, and most people don't stop and apologize because it's just one of those things and everyone accepts it.

However I'm talking about other lane swimmers, kicking a stationary non lane swimmer is different and the woman should have stopped and apologized in my opinion.

Sarinka. Hes my grandson, and I have a day off today to eat, read and watch TV and play on the computer sort out my internet banking!

I always take care at the pool, I only ask that other swimmers show equal consideration.

I rarely take offence because the majority of people I meet are kind, decent and responsible. I dont and never will regard someone who takes no care around children, in this category.

Funnily enough, I though a website for and about children would be understanding of this concept, but obviously not in a few cases.

Jones - I see no reason why that would happen but how would I know if something I was unaware of had happened? Of course I make an effort to avoid people in my path but it can be easier said than done if they move suddenly.

Squeeze - I do wear glasses and can distinguish a person from a patch of water without them but seeing where underwater limbs are is different - it may be the same for someone with 20 20 vision but I wouldn't know.

Will you stop villifying me please. I've got autism and my inability to use neurotypical reasoning does not make me bad. I assume that's what the problem is anyway - where did I say that I would behave like this woman the OP mentioned or have you just come to that conclusion through judging my posts by neurotypical standards?

quint. I was holding DGS facing towards the pool side where DD had DGS2. This strong powerful swimmer came up behind me heading towards DD at the pool side.

She hasnt invented a new swimming stroke, despite being very skilful and having an excellent well practiced breast stroke.

All good reasons for having the ability to avoid a stationary woman holding a child who could not see her.

Proud

You make a good point. I guess what I am questioning is the likelihood of this woman not realising she'd hit someone

I can't swim very well. I think I can lift my lead out of the water though

Yes, but the better swimmer you are, the longer your head is in the water. It only comes up to take a breath and then it's back down. As a jogger (I'm not one of those either!), you just shout a cheery "sorry!" without having to slow down or do anything. I apologise if I or my dog get into the way of a jogger though. A mutual apology for being in each other's way.

OK so it's not very likely but it's not impossible. She may have a had a problem with her nerves for example.

I've skimmed as I'm fucking furious!

I teach swimming and we have the fucking same in our pool when I'm doing 1-2-1 SN. I yanked one back by the foot once - an elderly 'gent' - he should have known better. horrible bastard

They do not own the pool.

Go and complain to the manager/swimming co-ordinator and ask them to be present the next time you go and get them to watch and get them to deal with it.

X

Owl

Ok. So you'd say sorry if the jogger trod on your dog and didn't say sorry?

This is getting silly by the way

^^ i meant all of it, not just you

proud. Im sure no one is criticising you. This woman was not swimming underwater and she was perfectly well aware of us and the fact she had kicked us. We were not moving, we were stationary and clear for anyone to see. No one minds the odd accidental kick in a swimming pool, Ive had loads and not minded.

This was a forceful thrusting kick from a breast stroke into a 5 year olds chest. She was aware of it but just chose to ignore it. I am sure you would not do such a thing as would the vast majority of swimmers.

Thats why Ive posted this, it was such an out of the norm occurrence and someone behaving like this really shocked me.

YANBU - an older middle aged woman doing laps decided to pull my son age 6 under the water as she swam past. He is a very strong swimmer so he was fine but I thought she had done it on her previous lap so I ducked under the water the next time she came past and I watched her grab him and pull him under again. She just wanted to make him frightened so he would get out of her way.

I had a right go at her and she stopped swimming and got out of the pool. Some people really are nasty.

CAN WE STOP NOW? PLEASE?

I have weighty matters to attend to

OP you are seriously not being unreasonable. If the woman had posted on here that she kicked a child and didn't apologise, the same posters criticising you would be having a go at her too. Some people just enjoy being argumentative and contrary on AIBU, but when it gets to situations like this where it is defending the indefensible it is just ridiculous to read.

I am just remembering the last time I went Lane swimming.

Chaos.

Woman doing weird all-over-the-place butterfly kicking up a tidal wave, people doing all the wrong speeds in all the wrong lanes.

Some people determined to overtake when I was in the correct lane for my speed

Christ, she accidentally kicked your child

It happens in busy pools, it doesn't mean she thinks she owns it.

Also, maybe she didn't apologise because she wasn't entirely sure who she kicked while concentrating on swimming.

Or maybe she's just rude?

Either way, I think you anger is extremely disproportionate.

Perhaps the swimmer was also disabled?

Worra

She covered that.

She's ranting