Crossword Genius

Those swimming would defend occasionally brief rests (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

breathers

'rests' is the definition.
(breather is a kind of rest)

'those swimming would defend occasionally brief' is the wordplay.
'those swimming' becomes 'bathers'.
'would defend' indicates putting letters inside.
'occasionally' means one should take alternating letters.
The alternate letters of 'brief' are 're'.
'bathers' enclosing 're' is 'BREATHERS'.

(Another definition for breathers that I've seen is " rests are needed".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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