Feminism: chat
Woman attacked by man for swimming "too fast".
acatcalledjohn · 30/06/2021 16:38
Another woman attacked by a man for simply existing. I'm glad she's spoken out about it but it's depressing she has to. Previously she was punched in the stomach because apparently swimming faster than a man is "bullying behaviour".
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/swimming-pool-west-london-attack-b1875453.html
JoveWhenHeSawMyFannysFace · 30/06/2021 17:24
I gave up aqua aerobics after an aggressive man started having a go at the (almost entirely) female group. He wanted a quiet swim, apparently, and disliked that there was music (so go at a different time, then… this was an organised, advertised session). We all complained to the pool, who did bugger all about it.
It’s depressing how much male entitlement is still pandered to.
MzHz · 30/06/2021 17:29
I’m a swimmer, not even close to as fast as the top lanes in the squad, but faster than the average public
I’ve been raced and had intimidation attempts but never from anyone in my Lane-
I’ve advised swimmers to switch lanes in the past, blokes not like that, but they can’t keep the speed of our swim, and it’s only right to switch if you’re holding others up.
There is a MASSIVE problem with life guards failing to manage Lane etiquette
MzHz · 30/06/2021 18:17
@AssassinatedBeauty
Absolutely
I had an aggressive WALKER in my Lane once
Insisting she had the right to walk as it was part of her physio.
Lifeguard “well it doesn’t say she can’t”
Me: “it says SWIM CLOCKWISE. I think that’s where it says you can’t walk in the Lane…”
I swim in a club now, mainly so I don’t have to swim with Joe Public
I’m thinking of sending OUR fast Lane up there to show the Chiswick idiot what Fast looks like
Sundancerintherain · 30/06/2021 18:46
Yup, happened to me years ago. Was getting fit again, used to swim at local competition level in my yoof.
"Man" took offence to my ( what he saw as) rapid progress . Took to trying to block the lane. Then tried to " race" me. My dad spotted his behaviour ( we were on a get fit kick together) & warned me. The idiot deliberately " bombed" me the next week.
Of course he was thrown out and banned ( lifeguard saw it), but I could have been badly injured for having the audacity to swim faster than him.
Delphinium20 · 30/06/2021 19:02
That is awful- I'm so sorry for all of you who experienced that. I also swim but only did one competition (it was a bike/swim/run) but I hated it because the men's heat who went after ours overtook us swimming (it was in a large lake and we were the amateur women's 30-40 yr heat and they were the elite mens 18-30 yr). I was plowed over and more than one man grabbed my arms to swim past me. I spoke to a few of the women in my heat after the race and asked if that was normal and one said it's just luck of the draw who follows your heat. Another looked shaken and we all agreed our times were much slower than we'd hoped for. I have never attempted another race like that and just swim now for exercise and fun.
Reallyreallyborednow · 30/06/2021 19:03
My aunt was a competitive swimmer in her youth. Hasn’t swum for years but physio told her it would be good for her, so off she trotted to the local over 60’s session (she was in her 70’s).
Got properly shouted at by a man for swimming “too fast”. She was keeping well out of everyone’s way, plenty of room etc, only doing slow crawl and breastroke, hardly hacking it like Phelps, but he took great offence at a woman swimming faster than him.
He complained to the lifeguard that “aggressive swimming” shouldn’t be allowed. To their credit they told my aunt not to worry, and ignore him, please come back next time and they’d sort it.
They’d roped off a lane especially for her 
newnortherner111 · 30/06/2021 19:10
I wonder if the contracting out of leisure services to private companies has made them less willing to exclude or challenge unacceptable behaviour, because all the managers see is the bottom line. Which is very short term, as ultimately they will have fewer people.
MzHz · 30/06/2021 19:43
Apologies for the Dm link, but David Wilkie left his club after complaints he was too splashy
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4122782/Who-d-think-David-Wilkie-Olympic-champ-quits-health-club-ticked-lifeguard-swimming-fast.html
TabbyStar · 30/06/2021 20:52
It's been going on years, I used to get this 30 years ago, kicking you, not letting you pass at the end of lanes however many times you've overtaken them, blocking your way, men hate fast women. I am still quite fast for a middle aged woman, I can swim faster than most recreational blokes and I'm always on the watch out for vindictive behaviour, especially young ones who are trying to impress their girlfriends but are being beaten by me!
HavelockVetinari · 30/06/2021 21:01
[quote MzHz]Apologies for the Dm link, but David Wilkie left his club after complaints he was too splashy
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4122782/Who-d-think-David-Wilkie-Olympic-champ-quits-health-club-ticked-lifeguard-swimming-fast.html[/quote]
Sounds like he actually kicked/bumped into another swimmer and was rightly told off for it.
Ekofisk · 30/06/2021 21:02
I think it’s got worse over these Covid times, and having to book places for lane sessions.
There is a MASSIVE problem with life guards failing to manage Lane etiquette
Yes, but they’re often young, under paid and (more importantly) not backed up by management.
AnotherDayAnotherCake · 30/06/2021 21:36
This is one of the reasons why I go to the ladies only swim.
The last time I went to a mixed swim a man kept swimming really close behind me and spending a lot of time under the water with goggles on. I tried to wait at the side to allow him to pass and he would say ‘after you’ or ‘ladies first’ with a smirk on his face. I waited at the end, pretended to mess about with my watch or catch my breath but he would wait for me to swim off and then follow.
So lucky our local pool have kept the ladies only sessions, otherwise I wouldn’t swim anymore.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.