We are celebrating the success of one of our swimmers who has achieved her 10-metre swimming badge ahead of time, at the age of just three.
Edith Champion (4) from Winterbourne, South Gloucestershire, reached the milestone in February having taken to swimming like a duck to water. A milestone typically reached by children aged around 4-8 years old.
Edi started her swimming journey with us back in 2021 aged just 3 months old and has progressed rapidly through the swim school’s programme thanks to our supportive teachers and child-led approach.
However, it’s the bond with her mum Zoe, that has stood out to our swim teacher Claire, who commented: “Edi has always been a confident and happy swimmer with a natural ability in the water. But I think what really stands out is the support she’s had from her mum who has always been a great advocate of Edi’s swim journey. They make a great team, and her mum has always known when and how to push her to progress. It’s great to see a parent so positively invested in their child’s swim journey”.
Edi’s mum Zoe commented: “Edi has loved her journey throughout the Puddle Ducks programme and is now in Swim Academy. Her key teachers Carly, Meg, Hannah and Claire have all had such a positive impact on her journey, seeing her potential and pushing her (in a lovely way). Carly calling Edi a ‘little fish’ always sticks out with me! She said Edi would be swimming 10 metres aged three and it turns out, she was right!”.
Zoe added: “When we started our Puddle Ducks journey it was clear that the team value each and every one of their swimmers. They got to know Edi and us as a family so that our experience was really positive. This really helped us to see the value in Edi completing the programme and achieving the life-saving skill of swimming”.
Sarah Austin, Owner of Puddle Ducks Bristol and Bath concluded: “Edi has done so well achieving her 10-metre swimming badge when she was just three. She has natural ability that has been nurtured throughout her time with us by both her teachers and her mum. It’s such an important skill for children to learn, but also, it’s important to remember that it’s great fun for children, Edi herself says her favourite part is swimming like a mermaid!”