I’m a 61yr old man DX RRMS 2012 and cannot walk without poles. Due to my left leg having foot drop and weakness.
Following a recommendation from a physio in 2021 I discovered that if I use fins (small flippers) I’m able to swim. I now regularly swim a mile of front crawl. It’s fabulous to be able to.
Today I visited a leisure centre for a lane swim. I use this centre when I’m visiting friends in Lincolnshire
I’ve swum there on several occasions in the past two years.
In the past one duty manager there was unhappy with this and so ever since I’ve always checked before I swim.
Today the Duty manager said I couldn’t swim with the fins, then that he would put on an extra lane but if anyone else wanted to swim in it then I couldn’t wear them apparently due to the risk of injury. I asked if there wasn’t an obligation to make a reasonable adjustment but he said the H&S overruled this. He then said he would arrange the additional lane.
After 30 minutes the lanes were taken out and it then became apparent that kids swimming lessons were due to take place. The young lifeguard then told me I could no longer use the fins to swim as per the managers directive. The other usual lanes all had at least two occupants.This left me no option but to leave the pool.
This upset me, initially I felt angry but then almost tearful in frustration. Swimming is the only CV exercise I can do as I lose my mobility and a pool is the place where usually I feel the least disabled but not today.
I have swum in pools across the UK and everywhere else accommodates this minor compromise.
I’ve emailed the senior manager. Any suggestions for what else I can/should do?
Thanks for reading
Adam