Adam Peaty<\/strong>, James Guy<\/strong> and James Wilby<\/strong> are among the international elite who are backing Swim England’s #OpenOurPools campaign after the easing of lockdown restrictions in England did not include the reopening of pools.<\/p>\n

The trio were among hundreds who backed the campaign online within minutes of its launch as well as former double Olympic champion Becky Adlington<\/strong>, 2004 Athens bronze medallist Steve Parry<\/strong> and\u00a0British Swimming chief executive Jack Buckner.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Commonwealth 400IM champion Aimee Willmott\u00a0<\/strong>and world 4×100 medley relay champion Luke Greenbank,<\/strong>\u00a0Tully Kearney<\/strong>, who won triple gold in the S5 50, 100 and 200 free at last year’s World Para Swimming Championships in London, and Ellie Robinson<\/strong> – S6 50 fly champion at Rio 2016 – were also quick to add their voices.<\/p>\n

Alan Bircher<\/strong>, coach at Ellesmere Titans and former guide of Freya Anderson<\/strong> before her recent move to the National Centre Bath, included Marcus Rashford<\/strong> in his tweet following the Manchester United and England footballer’s successful fight for disadvantaged children to get free school meals throughout the summer.<\/p>\n

Even Matthew Pinsent<\/strong>, four-time Olympic rowing champion, questioned the decision, describing it as “pretty weird”.<\/p>\n

Chief executive Jane Nickerson<\/strong> expressed her “dismay and frustration” after Prime Minister Boris Johnson<\/strong> gave the green light for pubs, restaurants, hair salons, cinemas and museums to open for business once again from 4 July.<\/p>\n

Neither does it escape notice that Johnson made the announcement on Olympic Day, eight years after he enjoyed the glow of success of London 2012 as the capital’s mayor.<\/p>\n

Many had hoped and believed that swimming pools would also reopen from that date but their omission has resulted in the governing body starting a campaign to urge the Government to reconsider.<\/p>\n

They have asked people to apply pressure by writing to their MP (Member of Parliament), posting on social media, sharing infographics and signing a petition.<\/p>\n

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We have launched an #OpenOurPools<\/a> campaign\u203c\ufe0f<\/p>\n
Find out how you can support it here \u2935\ufe0f<\/p>\n
— Swim England (@Swim_England) June 23, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n