The Royal Life Saving Society of Australia estimates that at least 50,000 Australian pupils have left primary school each year this past decade without knowing how to swim, and that the country therefore faces a “drowning crisis”, maybe already manifesting itself with a spike in drownings in the 17- to 18-year age group. The society therefore launches a “Swim and Survive” fund today, supported by Uncle Tobys, aiming to put 10,000 children through swimming lessons by the end of next year.
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“Brinicles”, the terrifying icy finger of death
A brinicle is formed when brine (extremely salty water, denser and colder than the sea water around it) sinks from the ice above to the ocean floor, creating a frozen hollow “sheath” in the process. After hitting the seabed, it forms a frozen “river”, killing everything in its path. Run little starfishes, run! Via geekologie.com and geekosystem.com
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Self-discovery on a single breath
So it’s another freediving day on Swimmer’s Daily, here via this article about the ABC Open project “Water is …“, which inspires people to share their experiences with water. Video is Erez Beatus, one of Australia’s best known freedivers, describing his sport. See also the Vimeo group “Water is …”
Self-discovery on a single breath from Michaela Werner on Vimeo.
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Freediving Encounter at -70m
Spanish Freediver Miguel Lozano freedives to -70m on VW and finds a friend down there … in Tenerife.
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Radio presenter overcomes fear of water, broadcasts 5 hours underwater
Having overcome his fear of water, radio presenter Simon Clarke has now splashed the Guinness World Record for the longest underwater live radio broadcast, with a total time of five hours and six minutes. Yes, there is a world record for underwater radio broadcasts. Read The Western Wards Gazette.
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The Outdoor Swimming Society 2008 festive dip with Cassie Patten
Best choice of cold water swimming theme song ever: “Cold as ice” by Foreigner, 1977 :-D
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The supersuits were wrong, philosophically speaking
So, I’m totally out of my depth here, but this article is interesting, discussing whether the supersuits were wrong or not, philosophically speaking. The conclusion is that yes, if we value fair competition and the ability to compare results against an absolute standard over time, then the supersuits were wrong.- (11) If some technological advance undermines a valuable aspect of a sporting activity, then the use of that technology is wrong (within that sport).
- (12) Inter-temporal comparisons of sporting (or, maybe, just swimming) performances are valuable.
- (13) The use of performance-enhancing swimsuits, such as those used in the 2009 SWCs, undermines the inter-temporal comparison of swimming performances by making such comparisons unfair.
- (1*) Therefore, the use of performance-enhancing swimsuits in the sport of swimming is wrong.
Read Philosophical Disquisitions
Image courtesy of Elke Sisco, cc by-nc-sa 2.0
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Diana Nyad speaks at Philadephia GeoFest
Champion distance swimmer Diana Nyad speaks at the Philadephia Geographic Society’s GeoFest celebration, about her swimmer career, her Xtreme Dream and at 14-years-old being raped by her swim coach (!) Watch it.
Swimmer Diana Nyad speaks at Philadelphia GeoFest from Matt Sloane on Vimeo.
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Swim. – Behind the scenes / day four
Day 4 of the shooting of “Swim. – Short film“, and already it’s a wrap. Effective!
WARNING, a bit of hot tub action at 00:17 (phew, saved, now nobody will watch it).
SWIM – Behind the Scenes / Day Four from SWIM. – Short Film on Vimeo.
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