Aquatic athletes a hit in the Goldfields

Swimming Australia
Published: Nov 14, 2012 09:24:25 AM Updated: Mar 19, 2013 09:35:48 AM

Olympic swimmer Travis Nederpelt and world championhip representative water polo player Luke Quinlivan created quite a buzz both within the community and in the pool this week helping the next generation hone their skills in a series of exciting and fun pool based activities. 

Over 100 promising swimmers and water polo players took over the Goldfields Oasis Recreation Centre to participate in the first regional clinic of the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series Community Program. 

These free clinics offered to kids in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Kambalda gave Olympic athletes Travis and Luke the opportunity to share their career achievements, as well as promoting the message that you can live an active and healthy lifestyle through the participation in sports like swimming and water polo. 

With the expert assistance of Swimming WA’s Coach Education and Development Coach, Michael Shaw, the two hour clinic gave the kids aged between 6-13 a chance to learn the fundamentals of the respective sports plus an insight into what it takes to become an elite athlete. 

Dual Olympian Nederpelt said, “It was a great opportunity to see firsthand the strengths of the sports in regional WA. We attended the Annual Sports Star Awards dinner on Friday and if we can help discover and motivate the next up and coming Goldfields Swimming or Water Polo star by this program we have done our jobs.” 

World Champion water polo player Quinlivan said, “It’s great that the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series can offer such a unique experience, it’s not every day that you get the opportunity to visit a remote community and talk to schools about your experiences as an elite athlete.

The BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series Community Program, delivered by Swimming Australia in conjunction with Swimming WA and Water Polo WA, will see a number of past and present high profile athletes embark on a regional tours of Western Australia. 

“It was so much fun getting out there and giving back to the community and the kids really enjoyed themselves, it gave me a great sense of satisfaction.” said Nederpelt. 

Whilst in Kalgoorlie-Boulder the athletes exchanged their togs for joggers and participated in the Cancer Council’s Relay for Life. 

The BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series will be back in January 2013 with more aquatic heroes including Matthew Welsh, Linley Frame and many more.