Paralympic Champion Ollie Hynd MBE is now a swim teacher in Mansfield!

If you have swimming lessons at Water Meadows Leisure Complex or Rebecca Adlington Leisure Centre – you could now be taught by a Paralympic champion!

Ollie Hynd MBE is a new swim teacher in Mansfield! His illustrious career has taken him to two Paralympic games – with gold medals at both London in 2012 and the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Now retired from competitive swimming, Ollie, 28, has been involved in media duties during the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic games – featuring on Sky News, Channel 4’s The Last Leg and Lorraine - but he’s now using his extensive experience to teach the next generation of swimmers in Mansfield.

“This sport has offered me so many opportunities and it was really important for me to give something back,” Ollie said. “It may sound a bit cheesy, but swim teachers really can change people’s lives.

“A child’s first experience in the pool can shape their relationship with the water. So, if we can make those opening moments positive – they’re much more likely to become confident in that environment.”

Ollie lives with Neuromuscular Myopathy so realises that having a level of empathy is key to being successful as a swim teacher. He said: “I understand that in this role you need patience - and I know only too well that people learn in different ways.

“I think you’ve got to be passionate and enthusiastic to be successful because that enthusiasm can be contagious and spread to the people you’re teaching. If they see you having fun in teaching, they’re more likely to follow suit in their learning.”

Ollie is part of a long line of successful swimmers from Mansfield. From Rebecca Adlington to Ollie’s brother Sam, to Ollie himself - swimming in Mansfield is a sport of prestige.

“This town really is special and I’m so proud of its swimming legacy,” he said. “We’ve got fantastic facilities and a clear pathway to local swim clubs.

“So, whether you want to be a world champion, Paralympic champion or you just want to learn an essential life skill – getting in the pool is the first step.”