Note: This article has been updated since being originally published
Loughborough University has confirmed that they have allowed “19 elite level swimmers” to return to training after announcing on June 10th that they would be opening up some of their on-site sports facilities.
Last month, we reported that British Swimming has identified a number of elite swimmers who could, in theory, return to training. This was the first step in their ‘Elite Sport Return to Training Guidance (ESRTTG)’, which is being developed by the Performance Leadership Group (PLG) at British Swimming.
The report outlined how 32 swimmers would first be invited to return to training at one of two National Centres in England: Bath and Loughborough. However, Loughborough University allowing some of their own athletes to return to the water, seperate to those identified by British Swimming, appears to go against the guidance provided by British Swimming and Swim England.
When asked specifically about the athletes that have resumed training, British Swimming said: “British Swimming identified a small group of athletes to return to training as permitted under the specific criteria within the published government guidance. At this time, neither British Swimming or Swim England can provide wider permission to train under the current government guidance”.
A Loughborough University spokesperson provided a statement addressing this: “The University has allowed 19 of its elite level swimmers – of which there are more than 80 – back to training. All of these swimmers meet one or both of the following criteria: they derive an income from swimming; they are currently competing internationally at an elite level”.
The extent of the authority that British Swimming has over the university and what they do is not entirely clear. However, it is worth noting that when BS originally announced they would be selecting certain athletes to return to training, they stated “Any training venue that has not been approved by British Swimming will be acting outside this ESRTTG and we would advise athletes against participating in such activities until permitted to do so.”.
This creates a bit of a grey area, as Loughborough has been given the green light to re-open their pool but there seems to be a level of uncertainty as to which athletes should be training there at present.
New: Swim England CEO, Jane Nickerson, has provided some more information about the guidance issued by the organisation via her twitter account.
This tweet, as well as the second one embedded below confirms that neither British Swimming nor Swim England “endorsed” any university team to return to the water.
https://twitter.com/JMNSwimmer/status/1275000020576669697?s=20
https://twitter.com/JMNSwimmer/status/1273948052840157189?s=20
This screenshot was taken from @memenationalcentre on Instagram, and appears to be from Loughborough Performance Coach, Andi Manley.
When asked to comment on this message, a Loughborough University spokesperon confirmed this message was delivered by one of their coaches by saying:
“All athletes using our facilities were initially asked to refrain from sharing on social media their return to training, to ensure they were sensitive to the many others still unable to train due to the pandemic. This approach was supported by our campus sport partners.”
The guidance being delivered by British Swimming and Swim England is based on that of the UK Government. At present, many swimmers across the UK who are ‘eligible’ to return to training: i.e meet the criteria outlined by British Swimming (which you can read in full here) have to wait for their own pools and facilities to reopen.
Note: This article previously misstated which swimmers were a part of the university training group.
Any one see the slightly ominous post from the coaching staff asking for information
Rumour has it the coaching staff are now making direct calls to specific current and ex-squad members to try and get to the bottom of it despite the fact it is the coaches that are in the wrong
Yes I did. There is clearly someone leaking out information from the top at Loughborough. Don’t know if it’s a current or past squad member, or just someone with a grievance, who is very closely connected to get the information.
So they should go back they are elite athletes and it’s a university pool, for the university swim programme athletes to use. At least all the swimmers who are training are based at Loughborough/Leicestershire and not travelling from all over the country possibly spreading the virus to Loughborough and Bath like the ones training with British Swimming. Not the best decision British Swimming have made.!!#Health and Safety?
I agree with you on the whole, but Loughborough seems to have gone back when no one else is allowed, including the Bath Uni team even thought their pool is open.
Loughborough uni team have more elite athletes than Bath uni team, they have swimmers who went to the Olympics, so only right they should be training
Not all those who have gone back are ex Olympians though. Not all of their Uni squad are “more elite” than all the Bath Uni swimmers.
How do you know how many of them are Olympians? Do you know who the athletes are than that have gone back?
Most of the Olympians are in the official British swimming selected swimmers group. I can’t think of any ex Olympians who would be just in the general Uni team, but I could be wrong. And yes, I do know who many of the swimmers who have gone back are and there has been much discussion of this on Twitter, with one rumoured to be ranked 41 on the GB rankings in his best event.
The Loughborough University squad contains one Olympian who is currently still at home in France, and based on guidelines provided by British Swimming, only THREE of their British athletes should be back training, not half of their squad. It can’t be one rule for one club and another rule for the rest.
This is pretty frustrating for many swimmers all over the UK. A lot of “elite swimmers” like the ones allowed back from the Loughborough University squad are having to wait it out to get back in the pool, trying to maintain their fitness and motivation and seeing the gap between themselves and the others grow every day.
It is frustrating but they must keep strong with the mind set that THEY are having to battle it out even harder. They will have even better resilience in the end. Believing is key. My children are in a similar situation. These elite athletes should not be hiding behind closed doors but being pro active to support the many 1000’s of athletes yet to be back in the pool. There are many, many athletes that just fall outside the elite groups who are dedicated , swimming in lakes and make shift pools at home, and with a little extra support and messages of positivity they can keep going that little bit longer. Never give up!
That is easier said than done. When you are in your 20s and just below that elite level, still trying to reach that top level, it is very hard to see all your nearest rivals, both British Swimming funded and those allowed back in at Loughborough gaining that extra bit over you and you can do little about it.