Swimming with the stars | Taranaki Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Taranaki

Stratford Swimming Club swimmers were privileged to participate in an exclusive programme by Swimming New Zealand and Swimming Taranaki recently.

Danyon Loader, Olympic silver medallist in Barcelona in 1992 and double gold medallist in Atlanta 1996, was the guest coach at New Plymouth's Aquatic Centre.

He has returned to his favourite sport as New Zealand's Swimming Ambassador after several years of retirement. More than 30 swimmers, aged between 11 and 14 years, from Stratford, Opunake, Hawera, Bell Block and other swimming clubs joined Danyon Loader for a regional assessment day.

Danyon was assisted by Taranaki's head coach Scott Bartlett and showed the swimmers a wide range of techniques and gave advice.

Pearl Giles, Stratford Swimming Club co-ordinator and instructor, said the entire assessment day was very successful.

"On behalf of the swimmers and coaches, I would like to express our appreciation to Danyon and the organisers for this opportunity for our young swimmers. The reassurance that what we are teaching in the water is up to a certain level, the technique and the skills we are passing down to the next generation is acceptable at a national level, is a great comfort and a huge asset to the young swimmers of tomorrow."

The Stratford Swimming Club has sessions Monday to Thursday from 6pm-7.30pm, with Wednesdays open to the public from 6.30pm-8.30pm.