Jazz Carlin makes a 'Masterclass' impression on two of our younger swimmers

Whilst at the British Swimming Championships (Olympic Trials) watching fellow team mates Niamh Robinson and Ben Martin compete, 11 year old Beth Hartwell (B Squad) found herself being interviewed live on the big screen in TollcrossInternational Sports Centre!  The interviewer, former Paralympian Kate Grey picked 2 children from the crowd (of which Beth was one) to take part in a quiz, live on air!  The quiz was an ‘instant knockout’ and between them both they had to name as many Olympic Sports as possible, without duplicating…. If a sport was duplicated that person would be knocked out and the other would win a very special prize, the winner plus one other person would get to take part in a masterclass session taken by Olympic Swimmer Jazz Carlin.  

As you can imagine, for Beth to win this prize would be incredible and she would undoubtedly remember the experience for a very long time!  After a few minutes of naming the different sports, the young boy repeated ‘Athletics’ that Beth had already mentioned.  Beth was delighted to have won, the only problem was that she was returning home to Lancashire the following day and wouldn’t be in Glasgow on the day of the Masterclass.  Extremely disappointed, Beth’s mum tried every avenue to give Beth this once in a lifetime opportunity, then Beth’s grandparents came to the rescue, they offered to drive her back up to Glasgow on the Sunday to take part!  As Niamh’s brother, Harry was in Glasgow for the weekend to watch, Beth offered the other place to him – they were both extremely excited!

On the Sunday morning, Beth returned to Glasgow with her grandparents and her swimming kit, and met up with Harry in the main foyer.  Both children were given a behind the scenes tour of the pool, they were taken to the calling room and interviewing area before asked to get changed to get in the pool.  Jazz spent an hour with both of them showing them various freestyle techniques and drills that they may find useful in their training.  She also spent time letting both of them ask her questions, get signatures and photos.  Jazz has even requested them as friends on Instagram so she can keep in touch and up to date with their swimming progress.  As she left she told them both that they were exceptionally good swimmers for their age and that Pioneer 79 Swimming Club (which she had never heard of) was obviously a good club!

Beth and Harry thoroughly enjoyed their time with Jazz in Glasgow, they both congratulated her on achieving her Olympic consideration times and wished her the very best of luck in Rio this summer.