Paralympian Sharath Gayakwad runs swim training programs at Poona Club

Sharath Gayakwad

21^st September 2013, Pune: In a first for the city, under the mentorship of Paralympic swimmer and Speedo Brand Ambassador Sharath Gayakwad, almost 50 swimmers were trained to get “Speedo FIT” at the Poona Club, as part of a global swim fit campaign by the highly respected and reputed brand – Speedo.

In a two-day training programme conducted at the Poona Club Swimming Pool, Sharath coached the swimmers through a range of on-ground and in-water exercise routines, while sharing with them diet tips and the basics of competitive swimming, and assisting more experienced swimmers with stroke corrections.

Having spent over a decade on competitive platforms at the national and international level, the Paralympian Gayakwad said “I’ve always loved the water and have found great satisfaction in swimming, either for leisure or while competing. Mentoring people, through the ‘Speedo FIT’ programs, allows me to share this passion for water with a receptive and highly motivated audience, hopefully encouraging them to stay fit while staying in the water.”

With training manuals and guidelines designed and developed by Speedo, the Speedo FIT campaign works towards enabling every swimmer in the world with the knowledge to get fit while in the pool and educating them on the benefits of a strong swim program has on the various muscle groups.

“We at Speedo are always working towards programs that encourage swimming as an activity to get fit while recognizing it as one of the easier and faster ways to get fit. Sharath is the perfect person to execute such a programme not only because he is one of the best swimmers in the country, but also due to the fact that he is committed to fitness.” said Dominic Vijay, Marketing Head, Speedo India, who is overseeing the execution of the Speedo FIT campaign in India.

At 8, Mihika Desai, the youngest participant at one of today’s session, had this to say about the program “Sharath, is a very good coach, he really helped us understand everything about swimming. If I could, I would have gone to all his training sessions.”

“I believe that programs such as these, are helpful and inspirational at the same time, to have somebody like a Sharath Gayakwad teaching you how to get fit while swimming is motivation enough to dive in.” Said Shabnum Poonawala who was a state level swimmer close to twenty years ago and benefitted from the program with Gayakwad when he assisted her with her stroke correction and breathing techniques, two distinct traits that result in a better swim.

With more people in the country looking to become healthier, Speedo’s initiative aimed at making people fit through swimming, comes as a great move to make the country fitter faster.