Hackney Aquatics Club meets Team GB Olympians

Words of wisdom: Hackney Aquatics Club members get training tips from Team GB athletes, medallist Harriet Lee and diver Nick Robinson-Baker. Photograph: Hackney Aquatics Club

Team GB stars passed on their aquatic know-how when they visited a youngsters’ club at Clissold Leisure Centre.

Members of Hackney Aquatics Club (HAC) had some extra special coaching last Sunday (23 September) when two of the Olympians popped in to see them.

Bronze medal winning 100m-breaststroke Paralympian Harriet Lee and Olympic 3m-springboard diving finalist Nick Robinson-Baker shared their experiences in an informal poolside chat before coaching the youngsters in their regular Sunday training session.

The elite swimmers helped to deliver a powerful training session by answering questions from the young swimmers on what it was like to stand on the podium and to compete at the highest level, and they divulged tips on balancing swimming with schoolwork and a social life.

Harriet Lee told the youngsters: “Don’t be disheartened if friends don’t understand. They will want to know you when you are standing on the podium and you will be a stronger and better person and accomplish more in life.”

“Make sure you get the right balance between school, swimming and friends. Keep your teachers fully up to date with your commitment to competitions and training so they can support you through your swimming journey”.

Nick Robinson-Baker said: “If you want to be the best you have to train harder than the best.”

Sarah Kelley of Hackney Aquatics Club said: “It was an amazing experience for our young swimmers to meet Harriet and Nick. Like the rest of the country, we were all transfixed by the games this summer and the kids were awestruck meeting an actual Paralympic medal winner and Olympic finalist. Inspiring a generation has to be about motivating the athletes of the future. Harriet and Nick certainly did that for our young swimmers.”

The HAC swimmers reacted enthusiastically to the visit.

“They were awesome!” exclaimed Skye Halsey.

“Their visit really inspired me” said Mathilda Whitehead.

Isabella Rose said: “Harriet and Nick were really cool and they gave us some great tips about swimming and training. Competing at the Olympics and Paralympics sounded a bit scary but an amazing experience. Harriet let us hold her medal, which was unforgettable, and Nick said he always tried hard to smile at the crowd before his dives. I really do feel inspired to work even harder at my swimming.”

Dick Millard, chair of HAC, said: “It has been an amazing afternoon for our club members to be able to listen and learn from Team GB first hand”.