SWIMMING — Inverclyde Club Treated To Online Q&A With Swimming Hero

YOUNG swimmers and their coaches enjoyed a special online question-and-answer session with Commonwealth and Olympic swimming star Hannah Miley.

Hannah has been competing in top-level swimming since 2006, with Commonwealth, European and World Championship titles to her name.

Everyone at Inverclyde Amateur Swimming Club was excited by the chance to hear about her knowledge and experiences firsthand.

Swimmers were asked to submit their questions in advance and they poured in from all levels of the club. With more than 70 swimmers participating, the Q&A was split across two sessions.

A wide range of topics including training, competing, nutrition, motivation and personal highlights, was covered. Hannah was also asked about her other interests and hobbies, with many people wanting to know how Hannah was keeping herself fit and motivated during the lockdown.

She reflected that this was the longest period of time she had been out of the water since learning to swim at the age of three. Like everyone, she has been doing all she can to retain her fitness and keep her spirits up with cycling, running and walking her puppy (which made a personal appearance in the first session).

Throughout lockdown, the club’s head coach Shirley Reford has been using the time to educate swimmers on different aspects of the sport that the usual intensive training regime doesn’t always allow for.

Seminars, via Zoom, have been delivered on racing tactics, good nutrition and developing mental strength. Hannah echoed all the points Shirley has made and it was great for the swimmers to hear it from someone at the top of their sport.

Hannah was also impressed with the programme of classes the club was delivering via Zoom to help the swimmers maintain their fitness and motivation.

Swimmers, coaches and parents alike loved the session and were motivated and inspired, not only by the chance to speak to Hannah, but the many useful pieces of advice she gave.

Club captains Molly Cannon and Kian McNelis summed up the general feeling: “All of us were honoured and over the moon to have such a fantastic opportunity to speak with one of the biggest names in British swimming.

“We’ve learned so much, and she was so friendly and encouraging. We’re so grateful to Gordon McArthur and Beeks Financial Cloud for their sponsorship which helped make this happen.”