Five-year-old Lucia West is making waves in the pool at Meridian Leisure Centre. Just a day after her birthday in August, Lucia became Meridian’s youngest ever swimmer to move into the Learn to Swim Stage 7 class.
The Swim England Learn to Swim programmes, taken by our swimming teachers and coaches, are progressive. Taking people through from Stages 1 to 7, with awards on completion. The centre also offers the more advances Stages 8, 9 and 10.
To complete the highest level a swimmer has to prove their competency in 11 areas, which include surface diving, swimming 10-metres in clothes, and front crawl and breaststroke.
Delighted mum Lyndsay West said: “Lucia has been swimming, just like her brother Finnan, since she was just a few days’ old. It is so important for their futures and their general health and wellbeing.
“She has just taken to it so well and is supported by some really, really good members of the team here. From the group sessions when she was a baby, to 1-2-1s and now back to group sessions, they have all been so good,” added Lyndsay.
Lyndsay stressed how the sessions also provided coaching for parents: “When you come along as a parent with a baby, they also look at your confidence and what you are doing as a parent.”
So how does Lucia feel about her star swimming: “I really enjoy it and love the water,” she said.
Magna Vitae’s Swimming Development Manager, Hollie Field, said: “It is great to see children like Lucia getting on so well. We all take care here to ensure that youngsters enjoy their lessons and progress in a safe way, which is suitable for their abilities and age and takes note of their physical and emotional development.”