Retired Michael Gunning Leading Swim Lesson Campaign in England
Retired Jamaican international swimmer Michael Gunning is leading a campaign in his home country of England to extend swimming education to children.
Gunning hosted a recent clinic at London Fields Lido for primary school children from Hackney, London. For many swimmers, aged five to nine, it was their first experience in the water. Like many of those in Britain who lack access to swimming opportunities, the group was overwhelming non-white.
“Swimming is more than just a sport; it’s a life skill and I know that not everyone has the same privileges when it comes to learning to swim,” Gunning said. “There have always been barriers, but I want to help start breaking down those barriers and change the perceptions of swimming and this will just be the start of some of the work I hope to do.”
View this post on Instagram
Gunning has been conducting clinics both on his own as part of a larger British initiative aimed at teaching all children to swim at least 25 meters by 2025. The larger campaign includes Olympic gold medalist Adam Peaty, Paralympian Ellie Simmonds, the Black Swimming Association, Swim England, Active Black County and Speedo.
The campaign seeks to rectify the findings of a Swim England report, that one in four children leave primary school unable to swim 25 meters. That’s despite swimming being part of the British national curriculum and funding to primary schools to provide swimming education. It includes an online petition urging the British government to allocate more resources and attention to the swimming disparity.
The numbers are much higher in at-risk minority groups, with up to 80 percent of Black children and 78 percent of Asian identifying as non-swimmers. (In adults, both figures are north of 90 percent.) Only 42 percent of school children in what Swim England classified as “the most deprived areas” can swim. There’s also a fear that loss of recreation time during the COVID-19 pandemic could raise the one in four figure as high as six in 10 children unable to swim.
Gunning, born in Kent, represented Jamaica at two World Championships. He retired from competitive swimming earlier this year. Swimming education is only part of his post-swimming activism, as he’s also a Pride House Ambassador for the Commonwealth Games this month in Birmingham.
“It was great to host a session where I provided an opportunity for the children to get into the water for the first time and see that representation,” Gunning said. “The kids absolutely loved it. Many of them were petrified just sat on poolside, but I supported them and the children who could swim helped out too and it was wonderful to see.
“Role models come in different shapes and moulds, and I felt inspired hearing all their positive comments and how they would love to go swimming again. Next week I hope to be that representation again as I’ll be the host of the Swimming Events at the Sandwell Aquatic Centre for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. It’s going to be strange not competing, but I’m excited I can still be part of the action and be among my friends and teammates.”