Alfie Pearce-Higgins

Tonight, Lionel Messi will walk out for his third World Cup final at 39 years old. Should Argentina beat Spain, they will be the first side to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962, and the case for Messi as the greatest player of all time will be closed for good. As a self-respecting Englishman, I will not be cheering for Argentina after Wednesday’s depressing semi-final. I’ll be silently supporting Messi for a very different reason. At 5ft 7in, he represents a victory for the least pitied disadvantaged group: the vertically challenged man.  Back in 2022, TikTok was awash with videos hailing ‘short king spring’: a trend celebrating the rise (no pun intended) of famous men under 5ft 8in.

As we sweat through the second heatwave of the summer, we are once again reminded of how poorly our country is set up to deal with hot weather. Leaving aside the lack of air conditioning and the sweltering trains, one of our biggest deficiencies is our lack of access to safe swimming. However, a new pool in the heart of London’s Canary Wharf shows what is possible. It could be the start of a natatorial renaissance across the country. I’ve always had issues with Canary Wharf. For three years in my early 20s, I masqueraded as a banker and the looming glass towers still bring back dark memories of suits and spreadsheets.

There are 1,000 spaces available for the 6-9 a.m. lane swimming session at Tooting Bec Lido in south London. On Sunday it was fully booked. After a few frantic lengths (at 91m, it is Europe’s longest), we are all shooed out at 8.50 a.m. by the lifeguards to make way for the daytime swimmers. Those slots are like gold dust and sell out within minutes of becoming available. Across London it’s the same story: swimming spaces are a precious commodity. After three heatwaves so far this summer and the warmest June on record for England, it’s easy to see why so many people are craving access to outdoor water. In total, the capital has just 15 lidos (if one includes a couple of ponds). Even the Serpentine is fully booked on good days.