THE Kirsty Coventry Academy which was launched by the country’s most decorated female swimmer, Kirsty Coventry early this year has taken off, with a pilot project being held at Mother Touch Junior School at Tynwald South in the capital recently.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
The academy’s co-founder, Tyrone Seward, told StandardSport in an exclusive interview that the first phase of the project, which was already underway, was focused on training teachers as swimming instructors and certifying them in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, also known as CPR.
Seward, who is married to the seven-time Olympic medalist, said with these skills and the advice of the Kirsty Coventry Academy coaches, the teachers have implemented an effective swimming programme for the children.
“We want to start by getting children ‘survival swim safe’ so that if they fall in the water they can float to the edge, get out and save themselves from drowning,” he said. “It is an important step in building a strong foundation after which we can look at developing swimming further,” said Seward.
Coventry announced her plans to open a swimming academy in the country early this year in an effort to reduce drowning incidents by utilising water safety and drowning prevention campaigns.
Drowning incidents have been increasing every year in Zimbabwe, with over 2 000 reported cases of drowning in recent years hence her decision to set up the Kirsty Coventry Academy.
“I know first-hand the power that sport can bring to a nation and I want to use sport to save lives, uplift communities and empower individuals,” Coventry told StandardSport from her base in the US.
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“Our priority is to prevent drowning so the academy will not aim at developing Olympians yet because there is a far greater need for people to simply learn how to swim.”
Coventry said the Kirsty Coventry Academy, which is a non-profit organisation, was based on three focal points:
*Train the coaches: school teachers are trained so they are properly equipped to give swimming lessons. *Learn to swim: teachers can use their added skills to implement effective swimming programmes which properly develop the child. *Ambassador programme: Young adults from around the country can apply to become Kirsty Coventry ambassadors. These volunteers will help spread water-safety and drowning prevention campaigns as well as other health and education issues.
“The ambassador programme really excites me because of the potential impact it can have across the country,” she said.
“We want to work with young leaders aged between 16 and 23 years who are looking to gain some experience and give back to their communities. More information will be provided on my Facebook page and website www.kirstycoventry.com so be sure to keep checking. The project benefits from the support of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation www.fondationprincessecharlene.mc,” Coventry said.
Coventry, who has already qualified for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, announced her comeback last year after a long absence from the pool after the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
To boost her chances of making a strong comeback, Coventry moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where she has been working with renowned swimming coach David Marsh of SwimMac Team Elite.
