Adlington Makes a Splash with 4-year-old Swimming Superstar

Double Olympic Gold medalist and newly crowned World Champion Rebecca Adlington has taken time out at the British Gas Big Dip on Clapham Common with her real life ‘mini-me’, 4-year-old swimming sensation Tae Smith. Tae stunned the swimming world last month when she swam an incredible 101 lengths non-stop

Tae, from Poole, Dorset, only started swimming lessons in February and now practices for just an hour a week.She met the Olympic legend and enjoyed an exclusive one-on-one training session with her in the pool.

Rebecca is on a mission to inspire the nation to swim and believes Tae, who is already tipped as a future Olympic hopeful, is definitely one to watch. She said: “When I heard about Tae’s performance I couldn’t wait to meet her. It’s an amazing achievement, especially considering she’s just four. I certainly couldn’t have swum that far at her age.

“I’m extremely passionate about inspiring the next generation to get in the water as soon as possible, and I’ve seen many budding GB swimming champions learning to swim through the British Gas Pools 4 Schools initiative, but I have to say watching Tae today she’s definitely in a league of her own.”

As well as parents Trezanand Rob Smith, Tae was also joined at the British Gas Big Dip by her swimming coach Nick Johnson.

The British Gas Big Dip is the UK’s ultimate urban swimming festival. Over the past month it has been encouraging children to take a dip and has provided free swimming lessons for 1,200 local youngsters.

Trezan said: “We were so overwhelmed when we found out Becky wanted to meet Tae and to get a personal session with her in the pool at the British Gas Big Dip; it was incredible.

“Tae was so excited when I showed her a picture of Becky that she’s been asking at every swimming class since when she’d get to meet her. It was fantastic to see her face light up when Becky arrived.

“She loves swimming and as long as she continues to enjoy it we’re going to support her all the way. Today will definitely be a day for her to remember, not every four year old gets to meet a double Olympic Gold Meddalist!”

Swimming coach Nick said: “Tae definitely doesn’t need any encouragement to get in the water, it’s getting her out that’s always the problem, but Becky is an inspiration to young swimmers and Tae seems more excited than ever to keep going after swimming with her at the British Gas Big Dip”.

The British Gas Big Dip is part of a range of initiatives, including British Gas Pools 4 Schools, which aims to fulfill British Gas’s commitment to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy swimming. British Gas supports british swimming at all levels.

For more information visit www.britishgas.co.uk/swimming

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