Features / Swimming
Making waves
Out to Swim West are a swimming club for Bristol’s LGBTQ+ community, part of Out to Swim, a 25-year-old organisation that also has groups in London and Brighton.
Launched in September 2018, Alastair and Matt set up Out to Swim West with their friend Rob Everleigh after moving from London and missing the queer swimming community. Less than a year later, they already have 11 members, with two swimming sessions running a week at the University of Bristol’s swimming pool.
Out to Swim West is open to all, including allies of the LGBTQ+ community. The only requirement is an ability to swim four lengths, and the first three sessions are free.
is needed now More than ever
The swimming club is more than a way to keep healthy for Alastair and Matt, however: “It’s a club that look after each other,” says Matt, “It’s about health, wellbeing and friendship. We always have a post-swim coffee at 99 Queens on a Saturday.”
Alastair agrees, saying: “It’s a community and it’s friendships. There are people of all shapes and sizes, from all walks of life. It’s a shared hobby and, you know, it’s not the pub or meeting online or friends from work.”
The club use the pool at the University of Bristol twice a week for sessions
With so much focus in the LGBT community on alcohol and partying, the Out to Swim West is a welcome change. “One of our members recently moved to the city and wanted to meet new people,” says Alastair. “We went for coffee after the session, and he said: ‘These are my first five friends in Bristol’. That’s what it’s about, that’s the best thing.”
The men are keen to highlight the acute focus on body image within the LGBT community and the fear that people will react negatively to swimmers’ identities. The club combats these worries: “It’s a place to excel without fear,” says Alastair, “There’s less barriers to organised sports when you know it’s already LGBT-friendly and there will be no homophobia which still exists, especially in professional sports.”
The club regularly takes part in local, national and international events, but it’s clear that the focus is on the individual swimmers. “It’s about swimming and about community. The primary focus is on swimmers’ personal best.”
Despite starting only seven months ago, Alastair and Matt are excited for the future: “It’s our first Pride as a team this year, and more growth means more events and more pool time” says Matt.
“Swimming is a leveller. It’s a club that looks out for each other.”
Find out more at www.outtoswim.org/west
Read more: Bristol’s LGBT Panthers FC return
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
