Little Roman shows it’s never too young to learn to swim
The key message from Olympian Robbie Renwick was the importance of starting swimming from a young age.
And few will take to the water as early as one-year-old Roman Stark-Smith.
The St Leonards toddler first stepped into a pool when he was just six months old and now, having barely passed his first birthday, the little star is so confident in the water he can swim to the bottom of the pool and go through submerged hoops.
Proud mum Karen Williamson, a swimming instructor for 14 years, told the News:“He could swim before he could walk.
“Roman’s been swimming since he was sixth months old and now he’s more confident going under water and swimming to the side of the pool.
“He’s quite happy to swim down to the floor of the pool, depending on the depth of the water.
“With me being a swimming teacher, he’s maybe got a slightly pushy parent but he’s happy to swim through a hoop submerged in the water. He’s confident going under and he loves it.
“He’s very happy and likes to clap his hands and blow bubbles when he’s finished.”
Karen takes Roman swimming at least twice a week and she added: “There’s not many as young as Roman who can do what he can but most babies are probably capable of it.
“Understandably, parents are maybe a bit nervous about it but because I’ve got more experience with it, Roman is probably confident because I’m confident with it.
“At South Lanarkshire Leisure we run adult and child classes throughout the area to get kids confident, happy and able from a young age, so by the time they are coming in to the club programme they are more capable.”
The family were also joined in the pool during Robbie’s visit by one of the oldest swimmers in South Lanarkshire, or possibly the country, 96-year-old Peter Condie, from Hamilton.
Forbes Dunlop, Scottish Swimming’s chief executive officer, said:“Learning to swim is an essential life skill.
“By getting the fundamentals right at as early an age as possible, by developing a love for the sport and by progressing through achievable steps on the aquatic pathway, people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds will have the confidence and skills to take part in a range of water-based opportunities, no matter if you are 8 or 88.”