Olympic Swimming Champion Brooke Hanson backs Belgravia Leisure water safety programs

Olympic Swimming Champion and water safety advocate Brooke Hanson has joined with Belgravia Leisure to endorse the facility manager’s learn-to-swim and water safety programs.

As part of its efforts to connect Australian communities with leisure activities, the gold and silver medallist will support Belgravia’s swimming and water safety programs, which are taught by AUSTSWIM™ accredited teachers and available for infants, toddlers, school age students, seniors, and people with disabilities. 

Launched at Sydney’s Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre today (Friday 22nd April), Hanson and Belgravia are now offering year-round swimming lessons, rather than the current term-by-term model.

Hanson has also been named official ambassador for Belgravia Leisure, which is responsible for the management and operation of more than 62 public swimming pools across Australia, and will act as a key liaison officer raising awareness of water safety within our communities across Australia and New Zealand’s beaches, backyard pools, great lakes and rivers.

Commenting on Hanson’s ambassadorial role, Belgravia Leisure Chief Executive Nick Cox stated “we’re delighted to be working with Brooke and look forward to a long-lasting relationship.

“Swimming and water safety has always been synonymous with our Aussie and Kiwi culture and we’re constantly inspired by the outstanding performance by our Olympic heroes with many, including Brooke, commencing their journeys and careers at a Belgravia Leisure centre program.”

Emphasising that winter is the perfect time to start children on their swim safe journey, Hanson recalled her own two near-death experiences in the water that she encountered as a child.

Hanson explained “water safety skills are essential. The reality is that they are skills that take time to learn and need to be sustained all year around. Whether it be to avoid bath mishaps with toddlers, to boat accidents while fishing later in life. The longer people spend in lessons the greater their confidence grows. For some this confidence can even lead to a passion, like it did for me.

“Who’d have thought I’d go from the frightening experiences of near drowning to living in the water as professional swimmer?

“As a mum I am all for supporting an environment that can give children the knowledge, confidence and good sense to be safe and enjoy the water.”

Hanson was joined by Cox and AUSTSWIM General Manager Program Delivery Jared Wilson to lead the advocacy for safer aquatic participation and drowning prevention and share plans to increase water safety education across Australia.

Belgravia Leisure took on the City of Sydney’s management contract for the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre as of 1st April.

Images: Brooke Hanson at the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre (top), Hanson with Belgravia's Nick Cox (middle) and key partners at the launch (below - pictured from left): AUSTSWIM's Jared Wilson; David Burns, Contract Manager - Aquatic & Leisure Services City of Sydney; Brooke Hanson; Nick Cox; Belgravia Leisure NSW State Manager James Ellender and Royal Life Saving Society - Australia Chief Executive Justin Scarr.

Article amended 2.30pm 24th April 2016.

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