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Lifesaving Speed Championships

4,584 views · Published 16 January 2018 · 3:21 · Indexed 27 October 2026

Channel: Britclip · 2018 · Travel & Events

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The sport of lifesaving is the only known sport in the world where participants first learn the skills for a humanitarian purpose and only later use them in competition. 

Lifesaving competitions are firmly embedded in the Lifesaving Society’s founding Aims and Objects. In fact, William Henry – the founder of the Royal Lifesaving Society – was a champion swimmer and one of the organizers of the aquatic events in London’s 1908 Olympic Games.

Ponds Forge International swimming pool Sheffield in the heart of the England was the location for this years UK lifesaving speed championships. 

The two-day event attracted over 500 competitors across all ages and from all around Britain. They were battling it out for top honours in a variety of categories such as the 100-metre obstacles race, the 50-metre manikin carry, Super Lifesaver male and Female Open races as well as the 12-metre line throw relay. 

Perhaps the most spectacular races of the day were the 50 metre manikin carry and Super lifesaver.

Manikin Carry - With a dive start the lifesaver swims 25 m freestyle and then dives to recover a submerged manikin. The competitor then carries the manikin to touch the finish edge of the pool.
 
Super lifesaver –the lifesaver swims 25 m freestyle and then dives to recover a submerged manikin then continues to the other end of the pool where they collect a fin and float, leave the manikin, swim another couple of lengths, re-collect the manikin and tire the float around it and head back to the other end of the pool.   

It may not be quite “baywatch” but it’s a entertaining way to stay fit and celebrate an often overlooked but yet vital workforce.

Today, Lifesaving Sport is a worldwide movement with Commonwealth and World Lifesaving Championships attracting thousands of participants.

Next year in Newquay in Southern England, the World Lifesaving Championships will be held for the first time. The Championships will one of the largest international participation sporting events in Great Britain before the London 2012 Olympic Games.

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