Press Release: Blue Peter presenter makes Big Splash at Coventry School

A Blue Peter presenter has been given some last minute swimming pointers at a Coventry school ahead of diving into a big challenge.
Andy Akinwolere joined pupils at Coundon Court School to film for the children’s television programme before heading out to undertake a challenge for The Big Splash –a scheme which seeks to encourage new people into the pool and help those who already swim to have more fun more often.
Despite having only learnt to swim 10 weeks ago, he is set to jet out to Indonesia and attempt to swim eight kilometres across the deepest part of the world’s ocean - Challenger Deep within the Mariana Trench.
The presenter dropped into the Secondary School to get some tips from Coventry Sports Foundation’s swimming instructors and Olympic medal-winning swimmer Steve Parry, from Total Swimming.
Coventry Sports Foundation has been running lessons at the school using the British Gas Pools 4 Schools pool - a portable teaching facility designed to accommodate a full class of children in a specially designed teaching tank.
The pool has been at the school for seven weeks and Coventry Sports Foundation has helped over 1,585 children learn to swim at the site during that time – in addition to the large numbers of swimming lessons it provides across the city every month.
Kayle Burgham, Coventry Sport's Foundation's swimming development officer, said: “We are delighted that Andy came along to see what we have been doing here and to get a few tips from our expert swimming instructors.
“It is amazing to see how far he has come in such a short space of time and hopefully he can inspire others to learn to swim.
“That is also why facilities like the British Gas Pools 4 Schools pool are so important. They give youngsters, who might not otherwise have the opportunity, access to a facility which can help them to learn an important life skill.”
For more information on Coventry Sports Foundation swimming lessons call 02476 856956 or visit www.covsf.com.
ENDS

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