Champ at talent pool
Olympic medallist Duncan Scott was back poolside in Stirling on Wednesday to put the next generation through their paces.
Stirling University pool hero Duncan - who has won gongs at Olympic,World, Commonwealth and European level during an illustrious swimming career - visited the Peak in Stirling to highlight the success of a programme designed to get more kids into the pool for the first time.
The Learn to Swim programme, run between Scottish Swimming, Scottish Water and local aquatic providers, has encouraged more than 2500 youngsters in the Stirling area to learn to swim.
The lessons are being run by Active Stirling and Stirling University, which has allowed more than 4000 people to come through the scheme in the last three years.
The 22-year-old swimming sensation, from Alloa, who trains at the university, took time out of his punishing
Olympic trials preparation to attend the event as part of his role as an ambassador for the programme.
And he provides an ideal role model for aspiring swimmers, having scooped an amazing haul of 19 medals at major events, including a pair of silvers at the Rio Olympics in 2016, as well as a gold and bronze at last year’s World Championships.
Duncan said:“As someone who loves beating records, it is amazing to see that the programme has not only reached its target – it has smashed it.
“Getting children into the pool so that they can have fun while learning how to stay safe is the number one priority. It would be amazing to see children become interested in taking a love for swimming further.
“Whether they simply become regulars at the pool with their friends or whether this inspires the next generation of competitive swimmers who could one day represent Scotland or GB at the Olympics, nothing but good things can come from encouraging more and more children into the water.”
The Learn to Swim framework is aimed at youngsters from birth to 11 years of age and provides high quality teaching at least once a week, which progresses into a series of lessons and levels over the coming years.
In total, the scheme has provided lessons to more than 106,000 kids in three years across 170 pools in Scotland, hitting their initial target of 100,000 three months early.
Craig Bodel, sports development officer, University of Stirling Sport, commented: “The National Learn to Swim Framework is a fantastic initiative which offers a clear and structured swimming pathway, for swimmers of all ability levels.
The structure allows children to learn how to be safe around water, have fun and develop aquatic skills, which will hopefully inspire them to have a lifelong enjoyment of swimming.”