Swimmers pool resources at seminar - 25/3/2010
Two top swimmers pooled their resources at Southern Water’s Learn to Swim seminar.
Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew and five-times Paralympic gold medallist Sascha Kindred teamed up as special guests at the annual meeting of more than 130 swimming teachers from across the south east.
Held at Crawley’s K2 leisure centre, the seminar was open to those who teach as part of the water company’s Learn to Swim scheme. It supports lessons at more than 70 pools and clubs across the region and has taught more than 500,000 children to swim since it began 19 years ago.
The theme of this year’s event was disability and included two lectures from paralympic swimming coach Michelle Weltman on useful tactics and methods of teaching people with physical and behavioural conditions to swim.
As well as the presentations, the day featured a practical workshop in the pool on water polo and keynote speeches from Sascha and Duncan.
Sascha was born with cerebral palsy which affects the right side of his body but has become one of Great Britain’s most successful paralympic athletes ever – winning a total of 47 major international championship medals during his career so far. He was awarded an OBE in 2009 and is a sports ambassador for West Sussex, having lived and trained in Crawley while a teenager.
Sascha said: “The support that Southern Water is giving to help promote swimming is vital. When I started out 20 years ago there was nothing like the Learn to Swim scheme around.
“It was a brilliant day which gave all the teachers a great opportunity to talk to each other. I’ve done some teaching before so I know how hard it can be and hearing from experienced teachers and coaches is so helpful.”
Duncan Goodhew MBE, the scheme’s ambassador, said: “Swimming is the best all-round exercise and a terrific learning experience. It is therefore crucial that a child’s first experience of swimming is the best it can be. Southern Water, with its Learn to Swim scheme, not only supports the child but crucially develops a better standard of teaching.”
Helen Sparkes, who organises the scheme, said: “This year’s seminar was one of the best we have run and we have had a lot of positive feedback already.
“It was great to have Sascha and Duncan’s support, they were inspirational speakers and contributed to an extremely successful day.”
The Learn to Swim scheme is sponsored by Southern Water suppliers 4Delivery, Morrison Utility Services and Clancy Docwra and supported by Berwin Leighton Paisner, Atkins and Mott MacDonald.
