As Becky Adlington swam into podium position and brought home Britain's first medal poolside, millions cheered for our bronze-winning water baby. To achieve such style and speed requires training most of us simply wouldn't have the time or the stamina for. Yet, London 2012 hopes to leave a sporting legacy for sports-pros and amateurs alike and the pool might just be a fantastic place to start.
Swimming has a lot going for it. It's brilliant for overall body-conditioning, but accessible enough that it can be anything from a splash around with friends or family to a powerful fitness catalyst. And it's never too early or too late to learn- most good leisure centres offer classes for adults as well as children. Swimming also has the advantage of being very easy on the joints, in a way many athletic and dryside activities simply cannot be.
Yesterday, I went swimming having not hit the pool for a few weeks...and I was not dissappointed. There's something that about paddling through length after length of shimmering turqupise that relaxes to the very core. But, if you're feeling more energetic, swimming can get pacy, splashy and down-right great fun! Jumping in at the deep end elicits feelings of childlike joy in children and adults alike, provided there aren't too many non-goggled swimmers hovering around!
Boards and foam water-weights added to the mix, you can work on different areas of the body. Paddling with a board is great for harnessing and honing the strength in your legs, whilst swimming along with water weights works both arms and legs simultaneously.
Whether nursing dreams of olympic glory or simply looking for a summer activity or a new way to get fit, I'd say your local pool is your best first port of call. We're not all future Adlingtons, but almost anyone can take to the pool and rack up a few happy lengths...!
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