Eight-times IPC European swimming champion Stephanie Slater is challenging the people of Manchester to take the plunge with Speedo's Dive In campaign, which is aiming to help adults swim their way to fitness by improving their front crawl.
Following her triumphant return from the recent IPC European Championships in Madeira, where she won gold in the S8 100m butterfly, Slater will pass on tips at the free 60-minute swim fit sessions, at the Manchester Aquatics Centre on Saturday 14th May.
Get Fit Through Swimming This Summer
Slater, who trains in Manchester, will be joined by three-times Commonwealth champion and former Stockport Metro swimmer, James Goddard. Goddard will be the lead instructor for the sessions on 14th May, and at a second event at Wythenshawe Forum on Sunday 15th May.
The campaign is offering 10,000 adults, free swim fit sessions at 50 pools nationwide from May to October.
Dive In has been launched in response to new research from Speedo, which revealed that only one in three* swimmers in the North West region could swim more than four lengths (100m) of front crawl proficiently, even though 65%* of British adults recognised swimming as the best for a full body workout.
Despite being the highest participation sport in the UK, with 2.5 million people swimming once a week, the new findings from Speedo revealed that one in three* (34%) adults are still not confident in the water. In addition, one in five* (20%) people that can swim, said that learning to be a better swimmer would encourage them to swim more frequently.
Team Speedo athlete, Slater said, "I'm very excited about going to the Speedo Dive In sessions at the Manchester Aquatics Centre this weekend. I'm passionate about swimming and love helping people to improve and get the most out of being in the water. It's been a great few weeks for me and I'm really looking forward to what I hope is going to be a fantastic summer."
Bury's world 200m freestyle champion and Team Speedo athlete James Guy is also supporting the campaign, he said, "As with any workout, the right technique is essential in helping maximise your session. You don't have to be an elite swimmer to have good technique and even the smallest changes can really make a massive difference to the enjoyment and results you get from swimming."
The 60-minute Dive In sessions have been designed with the help of leading athletes including Goddard and fellow ex-professional swimmers Ian Hulme and Harry Needs.
Along with expert training advice, the sessions will incorporate instruction on how to use a variety of different training aids, such as pull buoys, flippers and power paddles. These aids can help swimmers perfect an efficient front crawl and inspire them with new ways of mixing up pool sessions to increase fitness.
James Hickman, Global Sports Marketing Manager at Speedo International said, "We are hugely passionate about swimming and in this big year for the sport we want to effect a real change in the nation's swimming habits and get more people swimming for fitness.
"By providing 10,000 adults with free sessions we hope to inspire people to Dive In and really get the most from their swimming - learning new techniques with some of the UK's leading athletes, to maximise their fitness potential in the pool."
Steph Slater is an ambassador for Speedo's Dive In campaign, which is offering 10,000 free swim fit sessions across the UK from May - October to help adults improve their technique and fitness. Join the Swim Movement and sign-up at speedo.co.uk/Dive-In
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