Vote for the next new swimming stroke! Will it be the Dolphinella, the Seahorse or the Torno-twister?
Swim4Life asked kids up and down the country to create a brand new swimming
stroke and the nation responded in their hundreds. Over 300 fantastic entries
rolled in, inspired by everything from creepy crawlies to disco dancing,
dinosaurs to dolphins and even the Loch Ness Monster! Clever drawings and
inspiring tales told the story behind the active inventions, as kids from
all over got in the water and got moving!
The competition launched in July as part of the Change4Life initiative
to get kids having fun during the summer hols and keep active in the water,
helping them towards their recommended 60 active minutes each day.
A panel of judges – including swimming experts from the Amateur Swimming
Association, sporting institution Loughborough University and Change4Life – whittled
down the entries to five finalists, though with great difficulty! The final
shortlisted strokes are:
- The Dolphinella, by Ella, aged 11yrs
- The Torno-Twister, by Gabe, aged 8yrs
- The Hippo-Operous, by Isobel, aged 11yrs
- The Seahorse, by April, aged 14yrs
- The Patrick Star, by Billie, aged 11yrs
It’s now time for the public to cast their vote and chose a winner.
Simply search Change4Life online to view all the information on the strokes
and vote for your favourite. The winner will be announced by the Secretary
of State for Health, Andy Burnham in September and will win a trip to Alton
Towers Water Park for a family of six (two adults and four children) including
travel, overnight accommodation, entrance to the park and spending money.
Voting closes on the 4th September.
The Dolphinella, by Ella, aged
11 yrs
Ella’s swimming stroke The Dolphinella was inspired by her favourite
book, her love of dolphins and a previous holiday to Portugal, where she
got to kiss a dolphin on the nose in front of a large crowd! To swim the
Dolphinella clasp your hands together and put your arms out in front of you
and kick your legs together like a fin. Wiggle your bottom up and down with
your legs moving too so that you stay afloat and move forward. Move in bursts
of 4 wiggles then pause to breathe.
The Torno-Twister, by Gabe,
aged 8yrs
Gabe got the idea for the Torno Twister when he saw the water spin in the
bath. The Torno-Twister uses up lots of energy by twisting your body through
the water. To master the Torno-Twister, glide away from the wall and start
doing back stroke with your right arm. Quickly twist your body round onto
your front and alternate with front crawl. Continue twisting like a tornado
all along the pool.
Hippo-Operous, by Isobel, aged
11yrs
Isobel got her inspiration for the Hippo-Operous stroke from two wild animals normally found on the plains in Africa - the Hippo and the Rhino. The stroke involves cycling your legs really quickly and takes place under water, except for when you come up for a breath of air.
The Seahorse Stroke, by
April, aged 14yrs
April’s Seahorse Stroke took its inspiration from how seahorses propel
themselves forward through the water using their dorsal fin. The stroke involves swimming in the upright position with your head above the water – a
contrast to the more traditional, horizontal strokes we’re all familiar
with!
The Patrick Star, by Billie, aged 11yrs
Billie got the idea for the Patrick Star from her favourite cartoon character.
To do the Patrick Star stroke practice doing star jumps on dry land, then
get in the water and do the same! Move your arms and legs up and down in
the water and hold your breath when you can so you stay up above the water.
The swimming stroke competition marks the start of Swim4Life and over the next few weeks parents will be able to download free swimming tips and advice on getting the family more active through swimming. Simply search Change4Life online for more information. To find out where kids aged 16 years and under and adults aged over 60 can swim for free, visit http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/sport/5810.aspx
Notes to Editors
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For media enquiries only please contact Jo Wheeler at Freud Communications
on jo.wheeler@freud.com / 020 3003 6399
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It’s important kids are safe in the water and so they should always
be supervised by an adult swimmer
- The Competition was open to children aged under sixteen
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*The ASA is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving,
Water Polo, Open Water and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition
throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive
certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials
as well as its renowned Learn to Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220
affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure.
The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.
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Change4Life is a groundbreaking movement bringing government, community
groups, health workers, teachers, and businesses together. Our shared goal
is to help everyone eat well, move more and live longer. For more information
visit http://www.nhs.uk/change4life