Three swimming clubs in Mansfield have been awarded a total of £1,000 in council funding.
The Rebecca Adlington Swimming Award is handed out annually in acknowledgement of Rebecca’s success at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The grants were introduced after the council renamed one of its pools after the double gold Olympian.
The council fund aims to support the development of swimming within the district by helping clubs using council facilities with the costs of training teachers, coaches and officials for club and by assisting talented swimmers.
David Evans, the council's Head of Health and Communities, said: "Swimming is a great activity which promotes both good physical and mental health so we are pleased to be able to support this sport in the community through these grants.
"And who knows, maybe it will help to sow the seeds for another local swimmer to follow in Rebecca's Olympic footsteps."
The clubs supported by this fund this year are: Mansfield Swimming Club; Sherwood Seals and Sherwood Colliery Swimming Club.
The Sherwood Colliery club holds some of its sessions at the Rebecca Adlington Leisure Centre and Water Meadows Leisure Complex and has an illustrious history of members.
It was with this club that Rebecca started her swimming career back in 1997. Paralympian Charlotte Henshaw remains a member.
Rebecca's coach in her early days was Ian Negus, Sherwood's current Head Coach, who said: "Myself and the club's team of dedicated, professional coaches work with swimmers of all ages and abilities, from beginners to elite performers.
"We are very grateful for this grant which will enable us to train more coaching staff and pay for their courses which will be a long term benefit for the club."
Sherwood Seals is a club set up for children and adults in Mansfield and Nottinghamshire with disabilities. It aims to provide a safe and supportive environment for people with a disability to learn to swim, socialise and achieve to the best of their ability.
It holds sessions at every Monday night in school term time between 6.30pm and 8pm at the Rebecca Adlington Leisure Centre.
John Herward, the club's treasurer, said: "We are delighted to have received support from the Rebecca Adlington Swimming Award.
"Sherwood Seals provides swimming opportunities for children, teenagers, and adults with disabilities. Our activities are managed by volunteers, parents and guardians and the award received will be used to provide swimming aids and equipment for our members and swimming support volunteers."
Mansfield Swimming Club is a competitive swimming club based at the Water Meadows Swimming & Fitness Complex where it holds training sessions every day except Wednesdays and Saturdays.
To find out more about swimming activities in the district visit the More Leisure Community Trust website (link opens in new window).