THREE times Commonwealth swimming Gold medalist James Goddard has been putting young Wirral swimmers through their paces as part of a new sports academy aimed at discovering the next generation of world class athletes.
The World Elite Sports Performance Academy (WESPA) – fronted by former Premiership rugby star Alastair Saverimutto – launched last month and aims to take youngsters with rich sporting potential and improve them to medal winning level.
WESPA will be working alongside Wirral schoolchildren, who will get the opportunity to work with international level coaches and ex-professional athletes.
Former Olympian James Goddard is just one of those signed up to help WESPA reach its goal.
He visited Birkenhead High School Academy on Wednesday to assess four Wirral-based swimmers for their potential to join the WESPA scholarship programme.
Olympic swimmer James Goddard. Picture by Geoff Davies.
James, who was armed with his medals – including his Commonwealth Gold for the 200m backstroke – took to the water himself to take the girls through the techniques it takes to become a world class swimmer.
The hour-long session saw the swimmers - 12-year-old Caitlin Bradford from Wirral Grammar School for Girls, 12-year-old Anna Underwood from West Kirby Grammar School, 12-year-old Rachel Houston from Birkenhead High and 11-year-old Emily Brown from Hoylake Primary – show their true potential.
James Goddard gives students an inspirational talk. Picture by Geoff Davies.
James told the Globe he was impressed at what they had to offer.
He said: “I would have loved to have spent all afternoon with them in the pool. Swimming is one of those sports that’s really technical and requires a lot of work on technique.
“The girls seem really keen and they listened to what I had to say. Just them being here, coming out of school to get in the poor with me shows they’re ready to listen.”
Asked if the girls were potential stars of the future, James said: “There’s always potential. What Alastair is trying to do with WESPA is start something and give the athletes the opportunity to go and accomplish great things.
“In a sport like swimming, I don’t think kids at this age get the support that they need and deserve. Alastair is really keen to change that.”
12-year-old Rachel Houston shows her swimming potential. Picture by Geoff Davies.
The first two WESPA scholarships were announced at the launch event with sponsor Cammell Laird awarding them to Jasmine Dunne, 13, from Bebington High Sports College and Thomas Russell, 15, from Calday Grange Grammar School.
They will now both go on to a participate in a 12 month programme.
More than 200 young people from across Wirral applied for the first round of scholarships, through their school’s PE departments.
Alastair said: “Opportunity is everything in sport – and it is our belief that if you want success at the very highest level then you need to possess something different, you need to find that competitive edge.
“All too often at a young age the focus is exclusively on participation and I absolutely understand the strategy, but it is not suitable for everyone.
"There is undoubtedly a number of talented and gifted individuals out there and they need to be placed in a slightly different enhanced environment."
Alastair says he is now keen to find other potential stars of the future who may have missed the application process, with a series of masterclasses in hockey, swimming, performance testing and football – all given by Olympians and Commonwealth stars like James – taking place in July.
WESPA is also looking for local businesses to back them by offering sponsorships to create more scholarships.
John Syvret, chief executive of Cammell Laird – the first sponsor – said: “Sporting opportunities at the highest level are few and far between.
"If we can help have a positive and lasting influence, however small, then it is something I am proud to do and I encourage the local business community to embrace.
“I wish all the young people of Wirral who have participated in the WESPA application process all the best in their current and future sporting endeavours and look forward to learning of the progress of the inaugural winners in the coming weeks and months.”
- To find out more about WESPA, or to enquire about becoming a sponsor, visit wespa.uk.
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