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46-813: Kensington Leisure Centre is a leisure centre located in the North Kensington area of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , in London , England. It occupies land formerly considered to be part of the Lancaster West Estate , and was built with the Kensington Aldridge Academy . Both were officially opened by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in January 2015. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea had

92-413: A gym , and may include: aerobics studios, an indoor cycling studio, squash courts, a cafeteria , a licensed bar , outdoor grass and/or artificial pitches for football (soccer) , hockey etc., a solarium , sauna and/or steam room . Some of its functions may overlap with that of a community centre . Leisure centres are staffed by attendants who carry out a range of tasks to help and supervise

138-434: A lifeguard to keep alert for any signs of distress. Swimmers often wear specialized swimwear , although depending on the area's culture, some swimmers may also swim nude or wear their day attire. In addition, a variety of equipment can be used to enhance the swimming experience or performance, including but not limited to the use of swimming goggles , floatation devices , swim fins , and snorkels . Swimming relies on

184-508: A Swiss–German professor of languages, wrote the earliest known complete book about swimming, Colymbetes, sive de arte natandi dialogus et festivus et iucundus lectu ( The Swimmer, or A Dialogue on the Art of Swimming and Joyful and Pleasant to Read ). Competitive swimming in Europe started around 1800, mostly using the breaststroke, which started as the current breaststroke arms and the legs of

230-472: A bridge, and consequently bivouacked in rather careless fashion on the opposite bank; but he sent across a detachment of [Batavii], who were accustomed to swim easily in full armour across the most turbulent streams. ... Thence the Britons retired to the river Thames at a point near where it empties into the ocean and at flood-tide forms a lake. This they easily crossed because they knew where the firm ground and

276-406: A defined stroke for propulsion through the water is unnecessary, and untrained swimmers may use a ' doggy paddle ' of arm and leg movements, similar to how four-legged animals swim. Four main strokes are used in competition and recreational swimming: the front crawl , breaststroke , backstroke , and butterfly . In non-competitive swimming, there are some additional swimming strokes, including

322-404: A factor of three to achieve the same effect as reducing resistance. Efficient swimming by reducing water resistance involves a horizontal water position, rolling the body to reduce the breadth of the body in the water, and extending the arms as far as possible to reduce wave resistance. Just before plunging into the pool, swimmers may perform exercises such as squatting . Squatting helps enhance

368-421: A lower centre of gravity and higher muscle content, human males find it more difficult to float or be buoyant. See also: Hydrostatic weighing . Since the human body is less dense than water, water can support the body's weight during swimming. As a result, swimming is "low-impact" compared to land activities such as running. The density and viscosity of water also create resistance for objects moving through

414-412: A sauna and steam rooms. The centre's squash courts were reopened in January 2020 after maintenance issues. 51°30′49″N 0°12′50″W  /  51.51354°N 0.21391°W  / 51.51354; -0.21391 This London -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Leisure centre Facilities typically include a swimming pool , a large sports hall, and

460-523: A shortage of school places and it was tentatively suggested during the "Towards Preferred Options Core Strategy and the North Kensington Plan" consultations in July 2008, that the "Kensington Sports Centre Key Site" was a possible site. The Kensington Sports Centre already existed but was in need of refurbishment, and it was thought that the two could share the same site. On 17 November 2008

506-561: A sports venue is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Swimming This is an accepted version of this page Swimming is the self- propulsion of a person through water or other liquid, such as saltwater or freshwater environments, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Swimmers achieve locomotion by coordinating limb and body movements to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that results in directional motion. Newborns can instinctively hold their breath underwater and exhibit rudimentary swimming movements as part of

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552-496: A submarine while it is submerged. Due to regular exposure to large bodies of water, all recruits in the United States Navy , Marine Corps , and Coast Guard are required to complete basic swimming or water survival training. Swimming is also a professional sport. Companies sponsor swimmers who have the skills to compete at the international level. Many swimmers compete competitively to represent their home countries in

598-443: A survival reflex. Swimming requires endurance, skill, and efficient techniques to maximize speed and minimize energy consumption. Swimming is a popular activity and competitive sport where certain techniques are deployed to move through water. It offers numerous health benefits, such as strengthened cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and increased flexibility. It is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. Swimming

644-468: A swimmer's start by warming up the thigh muscles. Human babies demonstrate an innate swimming or diving reflex from newborn until approximately ten months. Other mammals also demonstrate this phenomenon (see mammalian diving reflex ). The diving response involves apnea , reflex bradycardia , and peripheral vasoconstriction ; in other words, babies immersed in water spontaneously hold their breath, slow their heart rate, and reduce blood circulation to

690-725: A waterfront lifeguard receives more rigorous training than a poolside lifeguard. Well-known aquatic training services include the National Lifesaving Society and the Canadian Red Cross , which specialize in training lifeguards in North America. Learning basic water safety skills, such as swimming with a buddy and knowing how to respond to emergencies, is essential for swimmers of all levels. Some occupations require workers to swim, such as abalone and pearl diving, and spearfishing . Swimming

736-413: A £29 million new build. The centre is run by Better Leisure. It offers its members a 120 station gym, group fitness classes, a wet side with a 25m main pool with 250 seat spectator gallery, 20m teaching pool, leisure pool, swimming lessons. It has an eight-court multi-use sports hall, three studios, including a dedicated group cycle studio. It has catering in the form of a cafe. The Spa Experience includes

782-540: Is also used in marine biology to observe plants and animals in their natural habitat. Other sciences use swimming; for example, Konrad Lorenz swam with geese as part of his studies of animal behavior . Swimming also has military purposes. Military swimming is usually done by special operation forces, such as Navy SEALs and US Army Special Forces . Swimming is used to approach a location, gather intelligence, engage in sabotage or combat, and subsequently depart. This may also include airborne insertion into water or exiting

828-463: Is both the goal of much voluntary presence and the prime means of regaining land in accidental situations. Most recorded water deaths fall into these categories: Adverse effects of swimming can include: Around any pool area, safety equipment is often important, and is a zoning requirement for most residential pools in the United States. Supervision by personnel trained in rescue techniques

874-444: Is consistently among the top public recreational activities, and in some countries, swimming lessons are a compulsory part of the educational curriculum. As a formalized sport, swimming is featured in various local, national, and international competitions, including every modern Summer Olympics . Swimming involves repeated motions known as strokes to propel the body forward. While the front crawl , also known as freestyle ,

920-436: Is often recommended for individuals with joint conditions or injuries, as the buoyancy of water reduces stress on the joints. However, swimmers with arthritis may wish to avoid swimming breaststroke, as improper technique can exacerbate arthritic knee pain. As with most aerobic exercise, swimming reduces the harmful effects of stress. Swimming also improves health for people with cardiovascular problems and chronic illnesses. It

966-697: Is on power and water feel. The sport was governed internationally by the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA). In December of 2022, FINA rebranded to World Aquatics. World Aquatics recognizes competitions of the 25 meter and 50 meter pools for International Competitions. In the United States, a pool of 25 yards in length is commonly used for competition, especially in the College Level. Other swimming and water-related sporting disciplines include open water swimming , diving , synchronized swimming , water polo , triathlon , and

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1012-468: Is primarily a cardiovascular/aerobic exercise due to the long exercise time, requiring a constant oxygen supply, except for short sprints where the muscles work anaerobically. Furthermore, swimming can help tone and strengthen muscles. Regular swimming can help in weight management and contribute to maintaining a healthy body weight. (Robinson 2022) Swimming allows sufferers of arthritis to exercise affected joints without worsening their symptoms. Swimming

1058-452: Is proven to impact the mental health of pregnant women and mothers positively. Swimming can even improve mood. Although many forms of physical activity have been shown to improve bone density and health, this is where swimming has its downfalls. Due to the low-impact nature of the sport, studies have demonstrated that bone mass acquisition will be negatively impacted, which could be an issue for adolescent athletes in particular. Since 2010,

1104-805: Is required at most competitive swimming meets and public pools. Traditionally, children were considered not able to swim independently until 4 years of age, although now infant swimming lessons are recommended to prevent drowning. In Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Estonia and Finland, the curriculum for the fifth grade (fourth grade in Estonia) states that all children should learn to swim as well as how to handle emergencies near water. Most commonly, children are expected to be able to swim 200 metres (660 ft)—of which at least 50 metres (160 ft) on their back – after first falling into deep water and getting their head under water. Even though about 95 percent of Swedish school children know how to swim, drowning remains

1150-408: Is used to rescue people in the water who are in distress, including exhausted swimmers, non-swimmers who have accidentally entered the water, and others who have come to harm on the water. Lifeguards or volunteer lifesavers are deployed at many pools and beaches worldwide to fulfil this purpose, and they, as well as rescue swimmers , may use specific swimming styles for rescue purposes. Swimming

1196-494: Is widely regarded as the fastest of the four main strokes, other strokes are practiced for special purposes, such as training. Swimming comes with certain risks, mainly because of the aquatic environment where it takes place. For instance, swimmers may find themselves incapacitated by panic and exhaustion , both potential causes of death by drowning . Other dangers may arise from exposure to infection or hostile aquatic fauna. To minimize such eventualities, most facilities employ

1242-484: The Americans with Disabilities Act has required that swimming pools in the United States be accessible to disabled swimmers. "Water-based exercise can benefit older adults by improving quality of life and decreasing disability. It also improves or maintains the bone health of post-menopausal women." Swimming is an ideal workout for the elderly, as it is a low-impact sport with very little risk of injury. Exercise in

1288-676: The Olympics . Professional swimmers may also earn a living as entertainers, performing in water ballets . Locomotion by swimming over brief distances is frequent when alternatives are precluded. There have been cases of political refugees swimming in the Baltic Sea and of people jumping in the water and swimming ashore from vessels not intended to reach land where they planned to go. There are many risks associated with voluntary or involuntary human presence in water, which may result in death directly or through drowning asphyxiation . Swimming

1334-442: The modern pentathlon . To prioritize safety when swimming, swimmers can ensure that there are certified lifeguards present, swimming in designated areas, and being aware of potential hazards such as currents and underwater obstacles. As a popular leisure activity done all over the world, one of the primary risks of swimming is drowning . Drowning may occur from a variety of factors, from swimming fatigue to simply inexperience in

1380-611: The sidestroke . The sidestroke, toward the end of the 19th century, changed this pattern by raising one arm above the water first, then the other, and then each in turn. It is still used in lifesaving and recreational swimming. Other strokes exist for particular reasons, such as training, school lessons, and rescue, and it is often possible to change strokes to avoid using parts of the body, either to separate specific body parts, such as swimming with only arms or legs to exercise them harder, or for amputees or those affected by paralysis. Swimming has been recorded since prehistoric times , and

1426-461: The " Building Schools for the Future " funding was available. In reconfiguring the site, two areas of public open space were subsumed ignoring the requirements of the government planning document PPG 17 , and causing local resentment. The project was managed by Studio E architects and the building designed by LA architects. The former sports centre was closed in 2012 and demolished. It was replaced by

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1472-679: The Latimer Plan, or the Notting Barns South Masterplan made wide recommendations for relocating facilities, demolishing building such as the Grenfell Tower , and the Baranden Walk finger block and Verity Close and the building afresh. It was not adopted, though the principle of the combined leisure centre and school was established. There was an imperative to start construction within five years while

1518-784: The butterfly stroke. In 1873, John Arthur Trudgen introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions. The butterfly was developed in the 1930s and was considered a variant of the breaststroke until it was accepted as a separate style in 1953. There are many reasons why people swim, from a recreational pursuit to swimming as a necessary part of a job or other activity. Swimming may also be used to rehabilitate injuries, especially various cardiovascular and muscle injuries. Professional opportunities in swimming range from competitive sports to coaching, lifeguarding, and working in aquatic therapy. Some may be gifted and choose to compete professionally and go on to claim fame. Many swimmers swim for recreation, with swimming consistently ranking as one of

1564-749: The cold". The coastal tribes living in the volatile Low Countries were known as excellent swimmers by the Romans . Men and horses of the Batavi tribe could cross the Rhine without losing formation, according to Tacitus . Dio Cassius describes one surprise tactic employed by Aulus Plautius against the Celts at the Battle of the Medway : The [British Celts] thought that Romans would not be able to cross it without

1610-425: The current program includes events from 50 m to 1500 m in length, across all four main strokes and medley. During the season competitive swimmers typically train multiple times per day and week to increase endurance, strength, and preserve fitness. Furthermore when the cycle of work is completed swimmers go through a stage called taper where intensity is reduced in preparation for competition season. During taper, focus

1656-671: The earliest records of swimming date back to Stone Age paintings from around 7,000 years ago. Written references date from 2000 BCE. Some earliest references include the Epic of Gilgamesh , the Iliad , the Odyssey , the Bible (Ezekiel 47:5, Acts 27:42, Isaiah 25:11), Beowulf , and other sagas. In 450 BC, Herodotus described a failed seaborne expedition of Mardonius with the words "…those who could not swim perished from that cause, others from

1702-517: The easy passages in this region were to be found, but the Romans in attempting to follow them were not so successful. However, the [Batavii] swam across again and some others got over by a bridge a little way up-stream, after which they assailed the barbarians from several sides at once and cut down many of them. The Talmud , a compendium of Jewish law written compiled c. 500 CE, requires fathers to teach their son how to swim. In 1538, Nikolaus Wynmann,

1748-494: The extremities (fingers and toes). Because infants exhibit instinctual swimming behaviors, though formal training is recommended to reinforce these abilities. , classes for babies about six months old are offered in many locations. This helps build muscle memory and makes strong swimmers from a young age. Swimming can be undertaken using a wide range of styles, known as 'strokes,' and which are used for different purposes or to distinguish between classes in competitive swimming. Using

1794-435: The nearly neutral buoyancy of the human body. On average, the body has a relative density of 0.98 compared to water, which causes the body to float. However, buoyancy varies based on body composition, lung inflation, muscle and fat content, centre of gravity and the salinity of the water. Higher levels of body fat and saltier water both lower the relative density of the body and increase its buoyancy. Because they tend to have

1840-519: The people using the leisure centre's facilities, and act as swimming pool lifeguards , gym instructors and coaches , offering advice, motivation, and expertise to users. Leisure centres are often operated by private companies on contract to the local authority. Some leisure centres, particularly in Australia, are called aquatic centres , if their main facilities are pools for swimming , diving , and other aquatic sports . This article about

1886-402: The physical activities people are most likely to participate in. Recreational swimming can also be used for exercise, relaxation, or rehabilitation. The support of the water and the reduction in impact make swimming accessible for people unable to undertake activities such as running. Swimming is one of the most relaxing activities, and water is known to calm us and help reduce stress. Swimming

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1932-538: The third most common cause of death among children. In both the Netherlands and Belgium swimming lessons under school time ( schoolzwemmen , school swimming) are supported by the government. Most schools provide swimming lessons. There is a long tradition of swimming lessons in the Netherlands and Belgium, the Dutch translation for the breaststroke swimming style is even schoolslag (schoolstroke). In France, swimming

1978-450: The water works out all muscle groups, helping with conditions such as muscular dystrophy which is common in seniors. It is also a common way to relieve pain from arthritis. Swimming as a sport predominantly involves participants competing to be the fastest over a given distance in a certain period of time. Competitors swim different distances in different levels of competition. For example, swimming has been an Olympic sport since 1896, and

2024-472: The water. Swimming strokes use this resistance to create propulsion, but this same resistance also generates drag on the body. Hydrodynamics is important to stroke technique for swimming faster, and swimmers who want to swim faster or exhaust less try to reduce the drag of the body's motion through the water. To be more hydrodynamically effective, swimmers can either increase the power of their strokes or reduce water resistance. However, power must increase by

2070-433: The water. From 2005 to 2014, an average of 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings occurred in the United States, approximating 10 deaths a day. To minimize the risk and prevent potential drownings from occurring, lifeguards are often employed to supervise swimming locations such as public pools, waterparks, lakes and beaches. Different lifeguards receive different training depending on the sites that they are employed at; i.e.

2116-547: The ‘Family and Children's Services Oversight and Scrutiny Committee Working Group On Secondary Provision In North Kensington’ recommended the Lancaster West site for a proposed new academy. Consultants,'Urban Initiatives'were appointed in January 2009 to carry out a masterplanning study of the Notting Barns South area, with a view to large scale regeneration of the council-owned estates. The report, known as

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