How do you deal with a slow non-stop swimmer in your lane?

Former Member
Former Member
There is a swimmer in our pool whose appearance is "dreaded" by many of us. As soon as she enters your lane and starts her laps, the whole lane gets slowed down for a at least an hour, because, #1, she never stops and never give a chance to others when she's at the end of the pool and is going for another lap while another swimmer had been waiting to start; #2, whenever she encounters someone during the laps (whether in the same or opposite direction), she would continue as if others don't exist, as if it's her own lane and as if she's thinking "get out of my way please"; #3, and that's the most important point: she's slower than all the others in the lane. So everyone else has to slow down because the lane is not so wide, and from time to time you see people try everything they could to get around her, or backstrokers hitting her from behind (and she would still go on like you were just a fly). She usually continues like this for at least one hour, could be 90 minutes. She probably has her rule in mind, to never stop during the lap. That's fine as many of people here do that, but that works only if your speed is comparable to the others sharing the lane. What's the best way to deal with such a fellow swimmer?
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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 15 years ago
    ddl: Are your lanes unusually narrow? Every pool I've been in there's room to pass even when someone is coming the other way. If there is such a large disparity in speed just swim around her. Of course someone needs to nicely talk to her to explain how she inconveniences others. After that, contact when going around her might emphasize the message. I sometimes encounter the opposite issue. My workout pace is substantially faster than almost everyone else where i swim. People will try to leave the lane, seeking calmer water if I get in. I always re-assure them they need to do their own workout. Don't stop for me or worry about what I'm doing. I tell them it's my job to get around them without interference.
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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 15 years ago
    ddl: Are your lanes unusually narrow? Every pool I've been in there's room to pass even when someone is coming the other way. If there is such a large disparity in speed just swim around her. Of course someone needs to nicely talk to her to explain how she inconveniences others. After that, contact when going around her might emphasize the message. I sometimes encounter the opposite issue. My workout pace is substantially faster than almost everyone else where i swim. People will try to leave the lane, seeking calmer water if I get in. I always re-assure them they need to do their own workout. Don't stop for me or worry about what I'm doing. I tell them it's my job to get around them without interference.
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