As of 1 January this year, 588.438 members were counted in German swimming clubs. That is 25.455 more than a year earlier. Children under 14 years of age made up the largest proportion of new registrations.

"Most people join the clubs immediately after swimming training. Our growth is therefore proof that our clubs are working as best as possible on the swimming ability of the younger generation, despite the ongoing lack of water areas. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all training staff for this," said DSV board member Kai Morgenroth.

With the outbreak of the corona pandemic at the beginning of 2020, the closure of swimming pools led to a significant decline in membership numbers in German swimming clubs. In the period before the restrictions were eased, the DSV lost around 51.000 members. This was the lowest number of club members since German reunification in the early 1990s.

In this context, the number of primary school children who cannot swim has increased dramatically. According to the German Lifesaving Association DLRG, the number has doubled in the last five years. The overall rate is now 60%. 

"The aim must be for swimming to once again become a regular part of physical education classes in primary schools and for every child to be able to swim safely after leaving primary school," said Morgenroth. The German Swimming Association is hoping to increase the number of children being trained to swim as well as the number of members in swimming clubs in order to mitigate the effects of the corona pandemic.

The German Swimming Association represents the five Olympic swimming disciplines: swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, water polo and open water swimming.