She was banned from the local pool. Told that 'only Muslims' could dress like this.

In what seems like a reverse-return to the 1950’s -when the bikini was outlawed on Bondi Beach – a mother-of two has been told she was wearing ‘too many clothes” at the Port Kembla Olympic Pool, south of Sydney.

Yes you read that right – too many clothes.

She was approached by a lifeguard on Saturday when she went to cool down with her two sons, Lucas and Mitchell, aged 8 and 5.

The Dapto mother was wearing what she says was a “body conscious swimming outfit consisting of a rash vest covered by a stretchy, lightweight dress.”

She told the Illawarra Mercury that the lifeguard prevented her from entering saying, “I can only let Muslims in the pool in dresses.”

Katherine Pulo says she was stunned.

She asked “How do you know I’m not Muslim?” The guard replied: “You’re not Muslim.”.

For Katherine, who has been swimming at Port Kembla since she was four years old, the incident was distressing.

Katherine says she recently started wearing the rash vest and dress to combat her self-consciousness after the birth of her second son.

Whilst once she would have worn a bikini she now felt more comfortable covered up.

“I’m overweight … and self-conscious,” Katherine Pulo said.

“I feel discriminated against,” she said.

“Just because I’m not bound by a religion shouldn’t mean I can’t dress modestly. It’s my choice. Why should I miss out on going for a swim because I’m conscious about my body?”

When questioned about the incident Wollongong City Council’s Manager of Property and Recreation, Peter Coyte, told the newspaper that swimmers at the city’s public pools were required to wear “swimming attire” in the water, due to ‘potential health risks.’

The Council have since apologised to Katherine Pulo – but the rules are the rules and remain the same.

Source: The Illawarra Mercury

What do you think of the ‘appropriate swimming attire’ rules? Should she have been allowed to enter the pool?