Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew MBE officially launched Swimathon 2026 at Crowborough Leisure Centre on 20 March 2026.
The event marked a double milestone: the 40th anniversary of Swimathon and the 25th year of Freedom Leisure's partnership with Wealden District Council.
Event Highlights:-
- Special Guests: Duncan Goodhew, the Swimathon President, joined Freedom Leisure CEO Ivan Horsfall Turner, who personally completed a 5k swim to kick off the fundraising.
- Community Challenge: The launch featured a competition where participants could win a free month's membership by beating the 1.5km swim time of the centre's General Manager, Andy.
- Wider Participation: Over 40 Freedom Leisure pools across England and Wales are hosting sessions as part of this year's national event, which includes approximately 550 pools nationwide.
Swimathon 2026 Details:-
- Dates: The main event took place from 20–22 March 2026.
- Charity Partners: Funds raised support Cancer Research UK, Marie Curie, and the Swimathon Foundation.
- Distances: Participants chose individual challenges ranging from 400m to a Triple 5k, or join team relays of 1.5k, 2.5k, or 5k.
- Impact: Since its inception in 1986, the initiative has seen over 750,000 participants raise more than £55 million for charity.
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