World champion swimmer supports campaign to keep pools open

World champion silver medallist and two-time Olympian Lauren Boyle is lending her support to a campaign to keep New Zealand school pools open.

Ms Boyle, who recently became the only New Zealand swimmer to have won five world championship medals, has joined Water Safety New Zealand as an ambassador, in a bid to help stop the flood of school pool closures.

Around 156 school pools have closed in the past six years and a further 130 nationwide are at risk of being shut down permanently.

Water Safety New Zealand CEO Matt Claridge says having Lauren’s support is an exciting opportunity to raise further awareness of the issue and inspire young New Zealanders about the importance of learning water safety and swim skills.

“School pools are a hugely valuable resource for providing children – and the wider community – with convenient access to the water to learn essential survival skills. We are thrilled to have Lauren on board as a water safety ambassador focusing on this issue.”

Ms Boyle says she is excited about the opportunity to be involved in a project that she is passionate about.

“A pool at school should be seen as a ‘classroom’ in terms of what it can contribute to a child’s future – the essential life skills of learning to swim, keep safe in the water and also physical dexterity.”

As a water safety ambassador Ms Boyle will visit at-risk school pools and write and speak about the important role school pools play in New Zealand’s education system.

For further information about the Save Our School Pools campaign visit it http://www.watersafety.org.nz/media/our-campaigns/save-our-school-pools/.