You are working on Staging1

Meilutyte and Proud Become Spokespeople for Plymouth Learn to Swim Campaign

Ruta Meilutyte and Ben Proud, two of the biggest names in Plymouth sports, have joined forces with three national team divers and the city to ensure that each child in the community learns to swim.

Meilutyte, the Olympic and World Champion, feels that it is a skill that all children should learn both for safety and for fun, “As Plymouth is next to the sea, being able to swim is really important, not only is it a great life skill it’s also brilliant fun,” Meilutyte told the Plymouth Herald.

“I learnt to swim when I was seven and have enjoyed swimming ever since. I’d really encourage anyone who isn’t confident to give swimming another try.”

In the Plymouth school system there is an intensive swim program for children seven to 11, but up to 40% of children do not end up learning how to swim. Because of that fact the Plymouth city counsel has developed a program called  ‘Second Chance to Swim’.

Councillor Sue McDonald, cabinet member for Children, Young People and Public Health said: “I’m delighted that, as Britain’s Ocean City, we can now make sure every child has another chance to learn to swim in Plymouth,” McDonald to the Plymouth

Herald.“Learning to swim is an essential life skill and is important for both safety and health reasons.” 

“We are surrounded by water so the ability to swim out of danger can be a life saver.”

 “Of course having fun at your local pool is also just as important for health, fitness and confidence. “Nationally more than half of 11-year-olds leave primary school not being able to swim so Plymouth is already leading the way.”

Commonwealth Games champion Ben Proud expressed his love for the sport and his desire to see others develop the same passion, “I spent most of childhood swimming and it was such fun. Swimming is great and anyone can learn to do it, if you just it try.”

Tonia Couch, Sara Borrow and Rhea Gayle are the three divers who have also given their support to the program.

In This Story

0
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

0 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

Read More »