Swimming

Nicholas Bennett of Canada poses after winning the gold medal in the Men’s 200 meters freestyle S14 final during the swimming competition of the Commonwealth Games, at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Vancouver Island swimmer Bennett wins gold medal at 2022 Commonwealth Games

Ravensong Aquatic Club member was ‘ready for the gold’, says dad

 

The pool at West Shore Parks and Recreation will host Juan De Fuca Royals Swim Club’s swimathon fundraising event. (West Shore Parks and Recreation file photo)

Swimathon raising money for JDF swim club

Club president says they’re looking to expand and club gives another avenue with lessons fully booked

 

Victoria Artistic Swimming will host a water show Sunday (June 19) at Saanich Commonwealth Place. (Courtesy Victoria Artistic Swimming)

Artistic swimmers splash down at Saanich Commonwealth Place

Victoria Artistic Swimming hosts first water show since 2019 on Sunday from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

 

NIcholas Bennett points to the crowd after finishing second in the 200-metre free S14 and set a new Canadian record at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships in Portugal. (Swimming Canada/Ian MacNicol photo)

Vancouver Island swimmer Bennett wins silver medal in debut at 2022 worlds

Former Ravensong club member shatters own Canadian record

NIcholas Bennett points to the crowd after finishing second in the 200-metre free S14 and set a new Canadian record at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships in Portugal. (Swimming Canada/Ian MacNicol photo)
The Juan de Fuca pool will be full of kids learning to swim this summer, but others may be left without a spot in swimming lessons. (Courtesy West Shore Parks and Recreation)

Pools treading water as demand for swimming lessons surges on West Shore

Offerings have nearly doubled since the winter, but parents still struggling to get kids in lessons

The Juan de Fuca pool will be full of kids learning to swim this summer, but others may be left without a spot in swimming lessons. (Courtesy West Shore Parks and Recreation)
Parksville swimmer Nicholas Bennett is set to compete at 2022 World Para Swimming Championships in Portugal. (Swimming Canada photo)

Vancouver Island swimmer set to make debut at world championships in Portugal

Ex-Ravensong member Nicholas Bennett confident heading into competition

Parksville swimmer Nicholas Bennett is set to compete at 2022 World Para Swimming Championships in Portugal. (Swimming Canada photo)
Parksville para-swimmer Nicholas Bennett will compete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in England. (Swimming Canada Facebook photo)

Vancouver Island swimmer to compete at 2022 Commonwealth Games in England

Ravensong Breakers product Nikolas Bennett is one of eight para-swimmers on Canadian team

Parksville para-swimmer Nicholas Bennett will compete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in England. (Swimming Canada Facebook photo)
Olympic, Paralympic and world champion swimmers competing at the Bell Canadian Swimming Trials in Saanich Commonwealth Place. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Swimming Canada trials take over Saanich Commonwealth Place

Swimmers battling for national team spots at upcoming international competitions

Olympic, Paralympic and world champion swimmers competing at the Bell Canadian Swimming Trials in Saanich Commonwealth Place. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
First-year Vikes swimmer and breaststroke specialist Sophie Tarrant competes at the U Sports Swimming Championships in Quebec City last weekend. Tarrant won bronze in the 200-metre final and set new school records in three different events. (Don Voaklander/courtesy of University of Victoria)

UVic swimmers best 12 school records at first U Sports championship since pandemic

Sophie Tarrant takes bronze in 200-metre breaststroke at Quebec City meet

First-year Vikes swimmer and breaststroke specialist Sophie Tarrant competes at the U Sports Swimming Championships in Quebec City last weekend. Tarrant won bronze in the 200-metre final and set new school records in three different events. (Don Voaklander/courtesy of University of Victoria)
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)
A number of University of Victoria Vikes swimmers posted national qualifying times during the recent West Coast Collegiate meet at Saanich Commonwealth Place pool. (Black Press Media file photo)

UVic swimmers rack up national qualifying times at West Coast Collegiate event

Sophie Tarrant and others qualify for U Sports championships, March 24 to 26 in Quebec City

A number of University of Victoria Vikes swimmers posted national qualifying times during the recent West Coast Collegiate meet at Saanich Commonwealth Place pool. (Black Press Media file photo)
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
Meliah Motchman has a snack while completing a five-kilometre swim at Thetis Lake. The Victoria Special Olympics open water swimmer is nominated for an international award. (Photo courtesy of Susan Simmons)

Victoria Special Olympics swimmer nominated for international open water award

Distance swimming specialist Meliah Motchman has broken new ground

Meliah Motchman has a snack while completing a five-kilometre swim at Thetis Lake. The Victoria Special Olympics open water swimmer is nominated for an international award. (Photo courtesy of Susan Simmons)
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)
Lucas Gentina holds a Chilean flag listing the name of his hometown, La Boca de Rapel, after swimming across Elk Lake to fundraise for equipment benefiting residents at the long-term care unit of Saanich Peninsula Hospital, where he works as a rehabilitation assistant. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Morning swim across Elk Lake splashes up thousands for Saanich Peninsula Hospital

Rehabilitation assistant Lucas Gentina finishes 2K swim, learns that he raised $8,500

Lucas Gentina holds a Chilean flag listing the name of his hometown, La Boca de Rapel, after swimming across Elk Lake to fundraise for equipment benefiting residents at the long-term care unit of Saanich Peninsula Hospital, where he works as a rehabilitation assistant. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Lucas Gentina, a rehabilitation assistant for seniors in long-term care at Saanich Peninsula Hospital, is doing a 2K fundraiser swim across Elk Lake, winding up near the Victoria City Rowing Club, where he is pictured here. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

‘Aquaman’ raising funds for seniors at Saanich Peninsula Hospital with Elk Lake swim

Lucas Gentina plans to swim 2K from corner to corner across the Saanich lake on Jan. 17

Lucas Gentina, a rehabilitation assistant for seniors in long-term care at Saanich Peninsula Hospital, is doing a 2K fundraiser swim across Elk Lake, winding up near the Victoria City Rowing Club, where he is pictured here. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Christopher Kelsall, right, addresses a polar bear swim crowd during a previous event. This year’s Smart Dolphins IT Solutions New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim has been cancelled due to rising COVID-19 cases, Kelsall said Wednesday. (Photo Courtesy of Athletics Illustrated/Facebook)

Esquimalt Lagoon polar bear swim cancelled for second year in a row

The Smart Dolphins IT Solutions New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim was scheduled for Saturday

Christopher Kelsall, right, addresses a polar bear swim crowd during a previous event. This year’s Smart Dolphins IT Solutions New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim has been cancelled due to rising COVID-19 cases, Kelsall said Wednesday. (Photo Courtesy of Athletics Illustrated/Facebook)
A group called the Mile Zero Minnows do cold dips year-round no matter the weather. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Polar bear swims are back in Greater Victoria – here’s what you need to know

Find events at Esquimalt Lagoon, Sidneys Glass Beach, and more

A group called the Mile Zero Minnows do cold dips year-round no matter the weather. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
The popular Polar Bear Swim organized in past by the Peninsula Celebration Society is the latest COVID-19-related casualty, cancelled for a second straight year. (Photo courtesy of Ralf Klostermann)

Plans for return of Sidney’s 2022 Polar Bear Swim sink with COVID-19

Popular Jan. 1 event historically draws dozens, if not hundreds to waterfront

The popular Polar Bear Swim organized in past by the Peninsula Celebration Society is the latest COVID-19-related casualty, cancelled for a second straight year. (Photo courtesy of Ralf Klostermann)
Saanich Parks and Recreation has scheduled Saturday swim times for diverse communities. (Photo courtesy of Gordon Head Rec Centre/Facebook)

Saanich Parks and Recreation adds swim sessions for women, 2SLGBTQ+

Upcoming Saturday night times at Gordon Head rec reserved for women, 2SLGBTQ+

Saanich Parks and Recreation has scheduled Saturday swim times for diverse communities. (Photo courtesy of Gordon Head Rec Centre/Facebook)