How swimming is keeping its head above water during coronavirus

A new Covid-19 Relief Fund has been announced with the hope of helping the swimming and aquatics community through the crisis

The Swimathon Foundation are helping to keep the sport afloat during coronavirus (Swimathon Foundation)

Swimming isn’t the only sport suffering through the coronavirus pandemic but it is battling on to keep its head above water.

Sporting schedules all over the globe have been decimated by the outbreak of Covid-19 with leagues and competitions forced to shut down for the foreseeable future.

Swimming is no different with events across the sport being wiped off the calendar with the Tokyo Olympic Games, originally slated for later this summer, the most high-profile to be put on ice.

The World Aquatics Championships in 2021 have now been moved too as coronavirus continues to wreak havoc.

It’s not only at the professional level where swimmers are feeling the pinch either, amateurs are in similarly troubled waters too with clubs and pools closed to the public.

But that’s where the Swimathon Foundation have stepped in with Monday seeing the announcement of a new Covid-19 Relief Fund designed to help the swimming and aquatics community through the crisis.

The Foundation will look to give out of grants of between £250 and £1,000 to smaller organisations experiencing short-term financial hardship from the effects of the virus, especially where access to financial support is not otherwise available.

These will range from national governing body affiliated swim clubs, aquatic clubs and swim schools to independent swimming organisations.

Swimathon president and Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew MBE is delighted to be able to step in at such a troubling time.

“I’m thrilled that we’re able to support members of the swimming community at this difficult time,” he says. “Almost all swimming clubs are run by a few individuals who put in an immense amount of voluntary time to keep clubs afloat.

“Now that hard times have hit, they may be really struggling with all of the costs associated. These are the unsung heroes of the sport and it’s so important that we do all we can to help them get through this tough time.”

Founded in 1997, the Swimathon Foundation aims to bring together the swimming community and highlight the benefits of swimming regularly, all whilst raising money for some of the UK’s most deserving charities.

The Foundation’s flagship event, ‘Swimathon’, has seen 750,000 people take part since its inception all the way back in 1986 and has raised more than £50million for worthwhile causes in the process.

This year’s event, like every other in pools up and down the country, had to be postponed. But, never fear, it has been rearranged for October 16-18.

“Swimathon has been raising money for good causes for 33 years,” chairman Anthony Kendall OBE says. “This fund is a crucial part of its plan to give back to those in the swimming community who are struggling to make ends meet at this time.”