Pool Pump helps schoolkids realise swimming dreams

Sport
ZIMBABWE Olympic medalist Kirsty Coventry has become an icon and a role model for a lot of young people.

ZIMBABWE Olympic medalist Kirsty Coventry has become an icon and a role model for a lot of young people.

BY OUR STAFF

Most of the upcoming swimmers have been finding it difficult to follow in her footsteps due to challenges that are associated with the sport.

However, Pool Pump came at the right time to assist some of the kids realise their swimming dreams.

The company, which specialises in swimming pool construction, maintenance and selling of pool equipment, got involved in the sport in 2010 when they introduced swimming galas which involved elite schools around Harare before spreading to other surrounding towns in the years that followed.

Their first ever swimming gala was hosted by Ridings School and it was eventually won by North Park School.

In the following year, Pool Pump hosted six swimming galas which spread as far as Marondera. In 2012, five galas were held and a number of private schools in Harare also had a chance to take part. According to Pool Pump spokesperson Shadreck Gumiremhete, that was the time when schools, the company and the community started working together for a noble cause.

“In 2012 we started involving private schools which forced us to use community swimming pools at some stages. What we would do was to donate pool equipment, chemicals as well as rolling out pool experts to make sure that the events went on well,” Gumiremhete said.

In 2013, five more swimming galas were held in and around Harare, Marondera and also spread to Chinhoyi.

“We had a chance to call upon coaches from different academies in the country to come and scout talented kids so that they could help them realise their dreams. This was a noble idea as some of the kids have since been recommended to our national teams.”

Gumiremhete said more was still to come from Pool Pump in the upcoming swimming season.

“A lot is in store for those kids who are eager to realise their swimming dreams. This year we are going to roll out a league which will see a number of schools joining and competing for top honours. We are looking forward to getting the ball rolling with 15 to 20 schools league. I hope this is going to improve the level of competition among schools,” Gumiremhete added.

Gumiremhete could not provide the names of kids that have made it into different academies or those that got recognition into national team swimming structures after having come through the ranks of various swimming galas that they have been conducting.

During the galas, kids also have a chance to meet specialists who take them through proper use of pools and dangers of drowning.