‘I’ve been to tons of lidos, but I’d never swum in one’ | Zoe Williams

There’s a bit of a hippy undertow about the body communing with the water. But to find all this out, you have to get in

Until you get your nose quite close to a fitness pursuit, you never know what kind of passion it arouses. Swimmers are like runners who’ve grown up, or cyclists who’ve found peace. They talk more about meditation than performance; they do not fixate on equipment or fancy clothes; there’s a bit of a hippy undertow about the body communing with the water. But to find all this out, you have to get in.

I’ve been to tons of lidos, but until I went to London Fields lido with Becky Horsbrugh, I’d never swum in one, for two reasons. One, when it’s warm enough, it’s always too crowded. Two, I don’t like getting wet.

Continue reading...

Share on Google Plus