Aiden Smith

A lot of our Swimming All-Star stories have focussed on overcoming hurdles and amazing achievements but this one is unique. We’ve been talking to Rookie Lifeguard course participant, Aiden, about how he wants to use his swimming skills and turn them into a career.

Aiden’s mum, Suzanne, told us that Aiden was always a water baby. She used to take him to the pool whilst his older sister attended swimming lessons and he was always in the water on holiday. As soon as he was old enough, Suzanne enrolled Aiden on a swimming lesson as she was always keen for her children to be safe around the water.

From that point onwards Aiden flew. He was always keen to attend his lessons, even as a teenager, getting up early on a Saturday morning to get to the pool, often dragging his dad out of bed too.

We asked Aiden about his Rookie Lifeguard lessons and this is what he said:

“I love the atmosphere that we have in the class. My favourite skills are diving, and I have met new friends that I get along with. It’s nice to have people with the same interests.”

Aiden has taken part in plenty of water-based activities since learning to swim including paddleboard, sailing, swimming on holiday and he also had one of our pool parties for his birthday one year! He’d like to try out jet skiing next!

It was Aiden’s swimming teacher, Diane, that told us about Aiden wanting to become a Lifeguard.  We asked him why this was? 

“Because I can swim and I’m strong enough to help others if they’re struggling in the water.  I can help them properly and know the best ways to help them.”

This is all thanks to the Rookie Lifeguard programme, run in association with the Royal Lifesaving Society (RLSS).  The Rookie Lifeguard programme is taught using colourful materials, and fun, varied lifesaving and rescue activities to give children the skills they need to be confident in the pool or the sea and enjoy the water safely, whether in shallow or deeper water.

Aiden’s involvement in swimming lessons and his progression to do the Rookie Lifeguarding has given him the motivation and confidence to use his skills to start his Duke of Edinburgh award.  He is looking forward to becoming a fully qualified Lifeguard later this year and will hopefully find a position working at his favourite pool.  

In addition to swimming, Aiden is learning how to sail, and his parents hope that he will also consider learning other water-based activities such as water polo and scuba diving.  They commented, “Without his strong swimming ability none of this would have been possible.”

If you are interested in swimming lessons or would like to find out more about our other Aquatic courses please complete our enquiry form below and our friendly swim team will be in touch.