OLYMPIC hero Duncan Scott is inspiring the biggest drive ever to encourage people of all ages and abilities in South Ayrshire to learn to swim.

Scott became Britain’s most successful athlete at a single Olympic Games in the summer, by claiming a gold and three silver medals in Tokyo.

He started his swimming journey right here in South Ayrshire, and now he is hoping his performance, and the rest of Team GB’s performance, can inspire the next generation of stars.

As part of his role as Learn to Swim Ambassador, Duncan is supporting the September-long celebration to help both children and adults of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to become safe and confident swimmers – especially with pools reopening after lockdown restrictions were lifted.

The existing Learn to Swim framework for children has already seen more than 100,000 young people participate in regular swimming lessons since it launched four years ago.

This Learn to Swim month will focus on encouraging older children to return to lessons across South Ayrshire if they haven’t completed their course to ensure they have the skills to be safe swimmers, as well as appealing for adults of all abilities to seek out lessons and additionally inspiring more people to become swimming teachers.

Duncan Scott’s Olympic journey all started in Troon, and he now hopes the learn to swim month can be supported and encouraged.

He has been an ambassador for the Learn to Swim framework for four years and alongside Paralympic medallist and fellow Learn to Swim ambassador Toni Shaw, has played a vital role in continuing to inspire, develop and motivate the next generation of swimmers.

Duncan Scott said: “I hope everyone gets behind Learn to Swim Month. I know people that because of Covid haven’t been able to get in a pool for a very long time so this might encourage them

to take their kids at a weekend.

“Learning to swim is a life skill and it’s so important for everyone to learn how to be safe and confident in the water. I’ve always enjoyed swimming and while not everyone will have ambitions to be an Olympic athlete, it’s an essential skill to have and fun to learn too.”

For more information go to www.learntoswim.scot