Increased demand for swim classes buoys local iron man

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Increased demand for swim classes buoys local iron man

A popular scheme providing members of a leading Sheffield sports centre with a coached swimming programme has added more sessions to cope with demand.

And 51-year-old David Campbell, from Rother Valley, is relishing the extra opportunity to train for the Iron Man World Championships next year.

Ponds Forge International Sports Centre introduced Swimfit sessions in January and a surge in demand has meant additional lane time has been allocated, including a specific junior programme.

Swimfit uses set poolside training cards that, with the assistance of qualified swim coaches, provide a progressive structure to help motivate and guide swimmers through lane sessions.

David said: “Swimfit at Ponds Forge has changed my life! The coach is great and the lunchtime sessions that I attend mean that I have found a good fitness regime that fits into my lifestyle.

“Before I started attending these sessions I could barely swim four lengths and now at the age of 51 my aim is to qualify for the World Ironman Championships next year.

“This involves swimming 2.5 miles and I am now confident that I can compete in each element of the challenge.”

Swimfit sessions have been written into specific gym training programmes to help give Fitness Unlimited members maximum access to facilities at Ponds Forge, including the 50m competition pool.

The provision for extra sessions coincides with the year-long renovation project taking place at the Sheffield International Venues-managed facility, which includes renovations to the Leisure Pool and changing rooms, brand new Group Fitness Studios and a brand new 1250sq metre gym that is due to be completed in June this year.

Helen Broadbent, general manager at Ponds Forge, said: “The Swimfit sessions have proved so popular that we needed to increase the provision inside four months of the launch.

“We want to give our members the best service possible and these sessions mean more people can benefit from our top class facilities at a time that suits them.

“And we are delighted David is getting so much out of it. Hopefully he will continue to do so until he’s ready for the Ironman World Championships next year.”

The Swimfit coached sessions at Ponds Forge are also available to non-members on a pay as you go basis.

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