Learning to Swim with Michael Klim Interview

Learning to Swim with Michael Klim Interview

They may never swim like Michael Klim, but the Olympic champion wants all kids to reap the safety, health and wellbeing benefits of learning to swim. Klim will feature as Australian Unity's Learn to Swim Ambassador in Swim Australia's new Community Service Announcement.

The Community Service Announcement reminds parents about the importance of swim education for all children.

"Having grown up around the pool my entire life, I have witnessed first-hand the pleasure and satisfaction the ability to swim can bring a child," Klim said.

"I've always seen swimming as an amazing skill for a child to acquire. Swimming is a tool for life, not only keeping children safe by building their confidence in and around water, but also enhancing their physical and mental development.

"Swimming not only gave me the opportunity to represent my country at the highest level but it taught me some invaluable life lessons such as perseverance, camaraderie, dedication and a passion to pursue a goal, and for that I'm very grateful. I would encourage all parents to give their children the opportunity to learn to swim."

Through the Community Service Announcement, Ross Gage, Chief Executive Officer, Swim Australia, wants to spread the word on swim education.

"Learning to swim not only makes a child safer around water, it leads to a lifetime of health and enjoyment. To this end - Swim Australia is delighted to launch a new Community Service Announcement supported by Australian Unity, featuring swimming legend Michael Klim," Mr Gage said.

Rohan Mead, Group Managing Director, Australian Unity, said the timing of the CSA was perfect.

Interview with Michael Klim

Question: Why did you decide to become the Australian Unity's Learn to Swim Ambassador?

Michael Klim: Swimming is obviously something that is really close to my heart having been given the opportunity to learn to swim, from an early age. Not only have I been able to benefit from taking swimming to the highest level but swimming really helps physical and mental development.

The drowning numbers are still, unfortunately, alarmingly high, there was 33 drownings for kids under the age of 5 last year and I think that learning to swim is a cause that needs to be reinforced to parents. The majority of Australian parents are still proactive at sending their kids to learn how to swim but there are still a small percentage of parents that don't and we want to raise the awareness of water safety and the understanding that swimming is a fun and enjoyable experience. The campaign is close to my heart.


Question: How do you hope to encourage parents to enrol their children in swimming programs?

Michael Klim: Using the community service announcement from Australian Unity and Swim Australia which will act as a reminder with the message that the Learn to Swim experience can be a fun and enjoyable experience and the upside of that is amazing. There are 600 registered Swim Australia Learn to Swim schools around Australia. The campaign along with the timing of the 2012 Olympics will hopefully jolt parents into action to enrol their children in the lead up to Summer because we are surrounding by water, being an island nation.

The announcement will work alongside a proactive social media campaign by Australian Unity and Swim Australia that will aid in spreading the message.


Question: Drowning is the most common cause of accidental death among children aged 1 - 4 years; can you talk about how is best to introduce swimming to really young toddlers and children?

Michael Klim: It's about getting them into the pool really early; we encourage Infant Aquatics and other infant programs which start at six months of age. Kids need to grow up in and around the pool and be taught by reputable Aus Swim certified teachers. There is certainly not a shortage of swim schools, it's about making sure parents enrol and then make swimming lessons a fun and social experience for children.


Question: What typically happens at a swimming lesson, for younger children?

Michael Klim: At the beginning it is mostly aqua play where the parents are in the pool with their children and there is singing and games involved; it's about getting them used to having their face underwater or on the water with splashing. The classes build up towards things like what to do if you fall into the water and how to get back to the side of the pool and climb out; we play Humpty Dumpty which includes falling off the side of the pool. Initially classes are based around safety including learning how to tread water rather than swim and then classes' progress from there.


Question: How and when did you first put your children in the pool?

Michael Klim: My kids started pretty early and we had them in the pool around 6-8 months of age although the age is quiet individual as my son didn't learn to swim until he was 2 - 2 ½ years of age because he wasn't as confident as my daughter. Kids will progress at different times but swimming is something that needs to be reinforced and kept up throughout the years.


Question: Will you still continue with training now?

Michael Klim: Just a little bit for health reasons and weight loss, I finished up training in March.


Question: What role are you playing with the London Olympics 2012?

Michael Klim: I am on the Sunrise Olympic morning panel which talks about the day's events.


Question: What advice do you have for young Australian swimmers who hope to represent Australia at the Olympics one day?

Michael Klim: For me, I have been very fortunate to reap a lot of rewards from swimming including being able to represent my country at the highest level and being able to travel. Swimming has been a great social experience although it can be lucrative at times. For mental and physical development swimming can really assist in teaching life lessons including pursuing goals, perseverance and fulfilment which are the other side of sports that is really good.


Question: Since retiring from swimming, what have you been doing to keep busy?

Michael Klim: My life is pretty full on at the moment with the milk&co brand as we have been launching a lot of new products including the Milk Active Range which is a range of supplement products like protein bars. We began with the milk&co grooming brand and went to baby organics and now recently to supplements.