Speedo Launches Dive In Campaign

Gethin Jones and Kirsty Gallacher joined Britain’s 200m freestyle swimmer James Guy, to launch Speedo’s Dive In campaign, which is aiming to help the nation swim their way to fitness by improving their front crawl.

Olympic 200m breaststroke silver medallist Michael Jamieson and Commonwealth 200m individual medley champion Siobhan-Marie O’Connor also turned out to back the campaign, which will offer 10,000 adults, free 60-minute swim fit sessions at 50 pools nationwide.

Dive In has been launched in response to new research from Speedo, which revealed that one in three swimmers could swim more than four lengths of front crawl proficiently, even though 65% of 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 adults are still not confident in the water.

The 60-minute Dive In sessions have been designed with the help of athletes including ex-professional swimmers James Goddard, Ian Hulme and Harry Needs. 

Along with 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.

Team Speedo athlete, James Guy 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.”

James Hickman, global sports marketing manager, 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.”