'Swimming is a vital life skill' Olympian Rebecca Adlington on helping children in Leeds learn to swim

Rebecca Adlington OBE first started swimming at three years old and began lessons simply because her parents wanted her to be safe when in water.

But little did Rebecca know back then that she would soon go on to break multiple records in the sport and that she’d become a four-time Olympic medallist, an achievement she described as “an absolute dream come true.”

Since her retirement, Rebecca has now set her sights on encouraging the next generation to learn how to swim through Swim!, a family friendly swimming programme which operates across the UK.

A new Swim! pool is set to open at Leeds City South Retail Park, and Rebecca hopes it will help children become more confident and safety-conscious swimmers.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post she said: “For me, swimming is an absolute non-negotiable - it’s a life skill as well as a fantastic sport.

“We believe a lot of parents think that their child is safe once they can swim without armbands but we know that is not true at all and unfortunately people often get into danger when they fall into outdoor water.

“Obviously, I will always be an ambassador for the sport but we have to see it as a life skill too.”

As well as a safety benefit, Rebecca hopes that the new Swim! centre will improve children’s physical fitness and see them form friendships with fellow learners.

Swim! in Leeds will be open seven days a week and offer classes for babies to introduce them to the water and children up to eleven years old to help them build their independence when in water and develop their technique.

The main aim of Swim! is to enable as many kids as possible to swim at least 25 metres unaided before they leave primary school.

The swimming pool itself is built to be a fun and inclusive environment as Rebecca believes this is how kids learn best.

Rebecca said: “Everything is built for children. The minute you walk through the door, there is a star of the week podium that is for kids to celebrate their little milestones, their certificates, and their successes.

“You've got a specific pram park, all our showers and handles are slightly lower and there’s no deep end.”

Alongside the swimming area, Swim! Leeds will also have a viewing gallery with wifi and air-conditioning so parents can comfortably watch their kids learn.

The introduction of Swim! Leeds follows the success of other Swim! venues in the surrounding areas including Batley, Sheffield, and Castleford.

For Rebecca, the new build is an opportunity to build on the “great community of sport” already in the city.

She said: “There’s such a brilliant sporting heritage there and I used to even swim in Leeds.

“Leeds has been an area we’ve looked at for a long time - it’s something we’ve always wanted to do.”

Ultimately, Swim! promises to offer children a secure environment to develop their swimming ability and enjoy themselves as they do so.

Rebecca said: “It’s a clean, warm, safe environment that makes learning to swim fun and enjoyable.

“Our driver is that we want to create confident, happy kids as they learn this amazing life skill.”

To find out more about Swim!, and to book a class for when the Leeds venue opens, visit their website.