'Incredibly dangerous': Aussie slammed over 'common sense' pool etiquette fail

"Making any attempt to stop you immediately was absolutely necessary."

While it isn’t necessarily peak pool season (though I know we’re all counting down the days), using a lap pool for fitness rather than leisure is popular year-round.

But, one Aussie woman has been called out for a simple mistake which she said nearly resulted in an injury - all thanks to a major etiquette fail we should all know about.

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Image: James Gourley.

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“Maybe it’s just me?”

A Sydney woman has taken to Reddit asking about an odd experience she had at her local pool.

The woman said she went to a public pool, joining a lane with another woman.

“I took one lane, shared with one lady and we split half-half. I took the left side and she took the right side,” she wrote.

But, then things started to turn awry.

“It went by okay for 10 mins and then a third person, a lady, decided to jump in so it became a three person lane,” she wrote.

“However, instead of waiting in the corner and informing us, I think she assumed I could see her?

“As I was on my way back she decided she would swim forward too from the left. She stopped (since she could see me) and physically held her hand out, stopped me mid-lap by pushing me underwater away to the side and told me outright to go in circular motion.”

The woman said she had no idea what had happened, asking if the interaction was justified.

“To me all was fine before she came and I genuinely could not see her, was not aware she was even there and I even thought I must’ve hit someone from the lane next to me?” she wrote.

“I got upset but [was] trying to do my best to let it go given it was an old lady. However I really don't appreciate being pushed underwater while [I'm swimming at] full speed. I was lucky nothing happened to my neck I guess.

“I was thinking she should have waited for me to get to the other end (I was nearly there) but maybe it's just me?”

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Commenters were divided

A number of commenters, though saying that the poster was in the wrong, said that the woman went about telling her in an unnecessarily dangerous way.

“It was a really bad way to let you know. She should not be touching someone and frankly, I’d sooner use a different lane than stop someone mid-swim to tell them off,” one person said.

“If you were already on your way down when the other lady jumped in and just started barreling down towards you then 100% I agree she's in the wrong for physically disrupting you like that. You don't just run out onto the road then yell at the cars that come towards you,” said another.

“Pushing your head underwater is unnecessary, aggressive, and dangerous. It could’ve caused an injury. Also you had an understanding with the other person in the lane to swim separate sides. This is sensible. Nothing wrong with this,” a third person pointed out.

But, given the danger, some commenters said it was justified.

“She may have panicked if you were going fast and didn’t know what else to do so stuck her hand out. Sounds like an unpleasant situation but don’t overthink it,” one person said.

“I think what she did was right. Maybe she didn't have to push you physically, but making any attempt to stop you immediately was absolutely necessary. What you were doing is incredibly dangerous (especially since you say you were ‘full speed swimming’). You and someone else could have swam head-first into each other,” another said.

“Her way of letting you know could have been better, but maybe she was surprised to find someone swimming on the wrong side of the lane,” a third added.

“Whilst her actions were a bit abrupt... she was right,” said another.

Stick to the left!

Regardless, the etiquette was clear - keep left!

“Stick to the left, just like on the road,” said one commenter, simply.

“Every pool I have been to has circular swimming as the proper etiquette. Just think about it, with circular swimming, 8 or more people can use one lane. With left/right side only two,” said another.

“You never know when a third or fourth or fifth person will join the lane so ALWAYS swim in a circular motion,” a third urged.

Originally published as 'Incredibly dangerous': Aussie slammed over 'common sense' pool etiquette fail