Swim challenge aims to make a major splash

MEMBERS of the public are being encouraged to get active by taking up swimming.

Last week Swim Ireland announced details of its annual Swim for a Mile Challenge.

The project, which was initiated in 2014, will challenge members of the public to compete in national events and swim a mile.

Swim Ireland will provide a free training programme, support, advice and motivation for all those wanting to take on the challenge.

The 2015 event promises to be bigger and better than last year. Swim Ireland have teamed up with Ireland Active to get pools all across the country participating and encouraging people to take the plunge and swim a mile.

Today FM’s Matt Cooper, who supported last year’s event, is on board once again, as well as Conor Pope and Dominique McMullan of The Irish Times and the Simon Community as the 2015 charity partner.

The challenge is being made possible this year through the Irish Sports Council’s Women in Sport Programme and the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund and The Irish Times who are entering into a significant partnership with Swim Ireland.

Supporting swimmers to go the distance, Swim Ireland is offering free training programmes available through the Swim for a Mile website and also free coaching clinics at locations across the country right up to the event.

With Swim Ireland’s expert support, participants will be able to hone their swimming technique, increase their levels of fitness and improve on a life-long skill – but most importantly be in prime shape to take on the mile challenge when the events takes place across Ireland from May 18-22.

Swim Ireland chief executive Sarah Keane said swimming is a

“unique

? sport in which people of all abilities and ages can get involved.

“The Swim for a Mile Challenge is the perfect platform to show this,

? said Ms Keane.

“The programme has been developed in line with the Department of Health guidelines on exercise and aims to empower people by giving them the tools to embark on a new challenge.

“I am excited about the 2015 initiative going nationwide and the impact it’s going to have in terms of growing the sport and encouraging as many people to experience the benefits of swimming.

?

Matt Copper said:

“I went into last year’s Swim for a Mile thinking I knew how to swim. I didn’t. I carried out a form of paddling which explained why it took me so long to get up and down the pool, with breaks in-between.

“So I was taught how to swim properly by a great coach called Brian Sweeney, who got me to put my head down into the water, showed me how to breath properly and use my arms in the right stroke.

“Admittedly, I still can’t get my legs working properly in tandem but the feeling of achievement and satisfaction as I built up the lengths was enormous.

?

Cooper said he eventually managed the 64 lengths of the 25-metre pool and the 32 lengths of the 50-metre pool.

“It was intimidating,

? he added.

“I wasn’t fast but I managed it four times in a week last year and enjoyed the feeling of achievement enormously.

?

For more information about the challenge, visit www.swimforamile.com