Swimming

 

 

Since the mid-1800s, competitive “speed” swimming in Scotland has gone through many peaks and troughs on the journey from a community/village based, regulation-less, social activity to a competitive discipline that members are participating at the highest levels possible – The Commonwealth Games and The Olympic Games.

It has been a long journey, with many initiatives, programmes, successes, failures, dedicated competitors, dedicated coaches, dedicated parents and enthusiastic administrators, but all along that journey has been subject to changes in society, funding and opinions of meaningful and committed administrators.

The “peak”, in terms wider than specific swimmers, was most probably the late 1940s – early 1950s with the incredible success of Motherwell Wishaw WP SC.
There is specific mention of their success in the “History and Development of Swimming in Scotland” section of the website, which can be accessed by the “History” button ! 

In parallel to some of the dramatic changes in the actual structure of the organisation of the Aquatics in Scotland, there have also been many swimming initiatives, particularly since the early 1990’s to date.
District Training Squads, Flying Start, District Regional Programmes, Squad Structures, Grand Prix’s.
When processing the many documents associated with this Archive, it was interesting to see change in competitive experience for those at the upper end/elite level.

When processing the many documents associated with this Archive, it was interesting to see change in competitive experience for those at the upper end/elite level. Through the 1970/80s, there were a number of Multi Nations International Meets or “head to head” International Contests, that Scotland participated “in its own right”. These phased out as other international opportunities came along and appeared more attractive.

Through the various “re-organisations” of both staff and policy, that have taken place within the SASA and subsequently SS over the last few decades, we are still very dependent on a small group of extremely talented individuals, but are still chasing that elusive goal of a “club and squad environment” that should grow a broad depth of talent, commensurate with our available funding and population.

The various “aspects” of Swimming in Scotland, from the mid-1800s to date, are presented to you by selection of buttons below the flag waving swimmers – wonder why they are so happy ??