Swimming

Pool hours at RDCK facilities are being reduced. Photos: Jennifer Small

Lifeguard shortage means less swim time at Castlegar, Nelson and Creston pools

Regional District of Central Kootenay reducing hours at Castlegar, Nelson and Creston pools

 

Canada’s Markus Thormeyer (left) huddles with Brent Hayden, Yuri Kisil and Joshua Liendo following a fourth place finish in the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay during the Tokyo Olympics on Monday, July 26, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn photo)

B.C. Olympian Markus Thormeyer banned 12 months for doping violation

Sanction stems from unintentionally ingesting a banned agent in his partner’s water bottle last year

 

Canada’s Maggie Mac Neil in action during World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 21, 2021. On Dec. 18, 2022, she set a new world record at the FINA World Swimming Championships. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Canadian swimmer Maggie Mac Neil sets world record at short course worlds

Mac Neil trimmed over a half-second off the previous record

 

Drowning is “not the violent splashing and shouting for help that one sees on TV. There’s no screaming or flailing of arms,” writes reporter Jenna Hauck. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)

COLUMN: Drowning is silent; familiarize yourself with the signs of it

Chilliwack reporter shares what signs of drowning look like after incident with son in pool

Drowning is “not the violent splashing and shouting for help that one sees on TV. There’s no screaming or flailing of arms,” writes reporter Jenna Hauck. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)
As others don pink t-shirts for anti-bullying day (Feb. 23), swimmers across British Columbia – including White Rock Wave members Bill Blair, Debbie Dunn and Cindy Yoc – are wearing pink caps as part of an initiative set up by Swim BC. (Contributed photo)

Sea of pink at B.C. pool a tribute to kindness, compassion during anti-bullying week

Swim BC offered pink swim caps to teams across the province for annual initiative

As others don pink t-shirts for anti-bullying day (Feb. 23), swimmers across British Columbia – including White Rock Wave members Bill Blair, Debbie Dunn and Cindy Yoc – are wearing pink caps as part of an initiative set up by Swim BC. (Contributed photo)
LKB Director Heather Suttie took part in the Polar Plunge on Jan. 27. (Submitted)

Pandemic Plunge: Lower Kootenay Band staff brave frigid river waters

For many Indigenous communities, dipping in icy waters is a historic cleansing ritual

LKB Director Heather Suttie took part in the Polar Plunge on Jan. 27. (Submitted)
Bill Behse of the Canadian Red Cross checks the contents of an emergency shelter unit at the Regent Park Community Centre in Toronto, on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. The Canadian Red Cross announced earlier this month it was “winding down” its swimming and lifeguard lessons through 2022, marking the end of a program that taught water safety to millions of Canadians over a 75-year stretch. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Waves of nostalgia for Canadians taught to swim by Red Cross as program winds down

The transition marks the end of a program that taught water safety to millions of Canadians

Bill Behse of the Canadian Red Cross checks the contents of an emergency shelter unit at the Regent Park Community Centre in Toronto, on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. The Canadian Red Cross announced earlier this month it was “winding down” its swimming and lifeguard lessons through 2022, marking the end of a program that taught water safety to millions of Canadians over a 75-year stretch. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
The Canadian Red Cross announced earlier this month it was ‘winding down’ its swimming and lifeguard lessons through 2022, marking the end of a program that taught water safety to millions of Canadians over a 75-year stretch. (Photo by The Canadian Press)

Waves of nostalgia for Canadians taught to swim by Red Cross as program winds down

2022 will mark end of a program that taught water safety to millions of Canadians over 75 years

The Canadian Red Cross announced earlier this month it was ‘winding down’ its swimming and lifeguard lessons through 2022, marking the end of a program that taught water safety to millions of Canadians over a 75-year stretch. (Photo by The Canadian Press)
Kids take the plunge at Camp Qwanoes’ Aqua Park. (Photo submitted)

Several campers and staff test positive for COVID-19 at B.C. kids summer camp

Crofton’s Camp Qwanoes executive director hopeful a day camp can still proceed next week

Kids take the plunge at Camp Qwanoes’ Aqua Park. (Photo submitted)
Penny Oleksiak of Canada holds up her bronze medal from the women’s 200-meter freestyle final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Matthias Schrader

Penny Oleksiak swims into Canada’s record books after earning sixth career medal

Her bronze is her sixth career medal, the most for any Canadian in the Summer Games

Penny Oleksiak of Canada holds up her bronze medal from the women’s 200-meter freestyle final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Matthias Schrader
Margaret Mac Neil, right, of Canada, is congratulated by Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden103 after winning the final of the women’s 100-metre butterfly at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Mac Neil tops women’s 100 butterfly to win Canada’s 1st Olympic gold medal in Tokyo

Strong second length propels swimmer to victory

Margaret Mac Neil, right, of Canada, is congratulated by Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden103 after winning the final of the women’s 100-metre butterfly at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Lia Crowe takes a cold water swim in Okanagan Lake in Kelowna. Don Denton photograph

When Cold Is Hot

Cold water swimming is therapy and exercise

  • May 26, 2021
Lia Crowe takes a cold water swim in Okanagan Lake in Kelowna. Don Denton photograph
Six Mile Beach outside Nelson is known for its perfect sand, clear water and unique sand spit. But the drowning death of a man in July has residents asking if the dangerous spot has become too popular. Photo: David Grantham/Kootenay Drone Services

Dangerous oasis: The fatal history of a popular Kootenay Lake beach

Six Mile Beach near Nelson is known for its unique sand spit. But locals have feared it for decades

Six Mile Beach outside Nelson is known for its perfect sand, clear water and unique sand spit. But the drowning death of a man in July has residents asking if the dangerous spot has become too popular. Photo: David Grantham/Kootenay Drone Services
Bowers reaching the north end of the lake. Photo: Aerin Bowers

Rossland resident Aerin Bowers completes 19-km swim along Christina Lake

Bowers said her dad inspired her to complete the epic adventure

Bowers reaching the north end of the lake. Photo: Aerin Bowers
Ida Jenss and Lily Nay swam across Kootenay Lake near Kaslo on Thursday. Photos: Tyler Harper

Lily and the lake: How a young B.C. girl with Down syndrome swam to her dream

Kaslo’s Lily Nay set her mind to swimming Kootenay Lake on Sept. 3

Ida Jenss and Lily Nay swam across Kootenay Lake near Kaslo on Thursday. Photos: Tyler Harper
L-R: Lauren Faulkner, Breanna Faulkner and Locke Finley of Kootenay Swim Club won medals at the annual Kelowna Snowfest meet. Photo submitted

Breanna Faulkner, Kootenay Swim Club win at Kelowna Snowfest

Faulker won four medals, including two gold

  • Jan 25, 2020
L-R: Lauren Faulkner, Breanna Faulkner and Locke Finley of Kootenay Swim Club won medals at the annual Kelowna Snowfest meet. Photo submitted
Justin Mitchell, in a photo with young athletes from 2016, has been banned from coaching in any Water Polo Canada-sanctioned event following accusations of bullying and sexual harassment. (Black Press Media files)

B.C. youth coach banned amid sexual harassment, bullying scandal: Water Polo Canada

Justin Mitchell can’t take part in Water Polo Canada events or clubs

Justin Mitchell, in a photo with young athletes from 2016, has been banned from coaching in any Water Polo Canada-sanctioned event following accusations of bullying and sexual harassment. (Black Press Media files)