The Gautinger summer pool counted almost 300 visitors on the first day of opening in this second year of the pandemic - and that despite the low temperatures.
Gauting
- Just in time for the start of the summer swimming season in this cool and rather rainy May, the sun shone in the sky on Saturday morning. A quarter of an hour before the opening, the first, tested or fully vaccinated morning swimmers with masks were waiting impatiently at the gate. The number one bather was Grafelfinger Josef Köppel. “I come here every day to swim,” the 84-year-old fit senior explained. "I am so happy that the community is opening the swimming pool again during the corona pandemic," said Sabine Balsberger from Gauting, who came to swim with her friend Petra Gierok.
A young man from the commissioned security company monitored the rules at the entrance with the technical manager Christian Ruhdorfer - a completed contact form, at this point a negative test result or proof of vaccination were required. A senior standing in line without a mask had to leave - until his wife hurried over with the forgotten mask. "We already know that from last season," said Sabine Balsberger. The Corona rules, such as masking requirements up to the pool, "also worked last year". The two Gautingen women have bought season tickets again. But why it is closed in this second season under Corona conditions between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. because the system has to be disinfected, some bathers did not really understand: This is a tragedy,when the outdoor pool closes on a hot summer day and families with children have to vacate the facility for an hour, the Gautingen morning swimmer Hansjörg Hägele (85) was indignant. Hot showers and changing rooms are closed anyway.
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Peter Bäuml from the security service checked the documents of the first guest, Josef Köppel.
© Andrea Jaksch
Despite free entry on the opening day, there was no child to be seen at the newly built water playground.
The sun was reflected in the 50-meter training pool.
The first swimmer, Josef Köppel, swam laps in the sky-blue shimmering water.
“I keep myself fit by swimming,” he said.
The former climber and mountaineer said he used to train alone in the Germeringer Weiher in the morning.
But his children find this too dangerous.
The summer pool is beautiful, the staff is simply “great”.
On the opening day, swimming master Marc Eigner from “Aqua Personal” was in charge.
Depending on the volume, up to four swimming masters are on duty.
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Christian Ruhdorfer (responsible for the bathroom at the community) posted information about the rules and explained them at the entrance.
© Andrea Jaksch
"I'm so happy," said Elfriede Augustin from Gauting about the opening of the bathroom.
In the skillful crawl style with flippers, the experienced four-layer swimmer arrived at the edge of the pool, snorting.
Almost every day she trains in the Gautingen outdoor pool, said the 80-year-old, who doesn't look at her age at all.
Because swimming is the only physical activity that she can still master, according to the native of Munich, who learned to swim as a child in the “Müller Volksbad” and never stopped doing it.
The early swimmers are well aware of the financing problems at the summer pool, Josef Köppel would even be willing to make a contribution. There was an opportunity to do this on Saturday, because councilor Stephan Ebner, chairman of the new summer bathing association, stood at the entrance and distributed applications for membership. "We have just won two new members," he said. The association now has 40 members. Sponsors are also needed, because the summer pool has big anniversaries in store: This year the former river pool will be 55 years old, in 2022 it will be celebrating half a century as a sports facility - as a training facility for the 1972 Summer Olympics. 295 visitors were there on the first day Swimming master Marc Eigner later balance sheet. On Pentecost Sunday it was only 90. The pool water was 23.6 degrees, the whirlpool a pleasant 32.9 degrees.
Christine Cless-Wesle
More info
For opening times and rush in the summer pool at www.gauting.de.
