Launching Our Public Awareness Campaign to Promote the Significant Health and Wellbeing Benefits of Swimming and the Importance of Learning to Swim
We are thrilled to launch our new campaign “Unlock Your Greatness,” aimed at promoting and improving the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders. At the heart of this new campaign lies our commitment to get more people swimming more often and have more Kiwis safer in the water.
We believe that swimming is a crucial life skill, and we are encouraging everyone to unlock their greatness by being active in the water. Swimming provides so many benefits that reach far beyond the water, and it is so much more than just a sport, it is a favourite Kiwi pastime that everyone should enjoy throughout their life.
There is loads of research that demonstrates why swimming is one of the best types of physical activity for people of all ages. One study that tracked over 80,000 adults for more than 20 years found that adults who swam regularly had a 28% lower risk of all-cause death and had a 41% lower risk of death from heart concerns. Research has also gone on to show how swimming can positively impact your mental health. A group of 3.3 million adults were asked about the impact swimming had on their day-to-day lives, with 43 percent saying that it has made them feel happier and 26% said to be more motivated to complete daily tasks.
Today, we are launching the Unlock Your Greatness campaign aiming to build public awareness of the endless health and wellbeing benefits of swimming, increasing the number of actively engaged swimmers across the country and increasing the number of Kiwis who learn to swim. We hope to see more Kiwis unlocking their greatness in and around the water by incorporating swimming into their daily lives.
Swimming NZ’s Chief Executive, Steve Johns, believes this campaign is a crucial step in inspiring Kiwis to be active in the water for life.
“Swimming is an investment in your health, safety and personal growth. We know that swimming reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease and increases your quality of sleep, with the whole body nature of swimming increasing your flexibility. There are endless benefits to swimming – I encourage Kiwis to get swimming this summer.”
Swimming is thought to be one of the best ways to exercise and it is one of the most fun. Swimming helps to boost your mood, by reducing stress and anxiety. Swimming is also a great form of low impact cardio, it allows the heart to become stronger and opens up the lungs to use more efficient oxygen - creating a healthy body and healthy mind.
Swimming NZ’s President and 1974 Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Jaynie Hudgell, has been enjoying the health and wellbeing benefits of swimming for her whole life.
"I feel very fortunate to have been swimming for nearly 65 years, starting with jumping into the lessons my father, Pic Parkhouse, was running at the age of 3, then swimming at the elite level competitively. Nowadays, swimming for me is a 3-times a week event, primarily for my health and wellbeing - both physically and mentally. The pure joy of diving into the water, the silence, the weightlessness, the memories it evokes, never cease to amaze and delight me.
Hudgell also encourages everyone to get active in the water.
It’s definitely my superpower! It's time to unlock your greatness at a pool near you today!
Swimming isn’t just a sport — it's a life skill with profound significance. The universal appeal lies in the fact that it's never too late to learn. The benefits of swimming extend far beyond the waters edge, impacting both mental and physical well-being.
Swimming NZ’s Head of Participation & Events, Dale Johnson, believes that learning to swim is an important life skill to learn.
“We are fortunate that we have stunning beaches as well as pristine lakes and rivers right on our doorstep. With easy access to water, it’s imperative that Kiwis are learning to swim from a young age. Learning to swim opens up so many opportunities, as it is the gateway to any type of aquatic activity, as it’s such a vital life skill for Kiwis to have. Whether that be whitewater rafting down the Kaituna River, wakeboarding during the summer or heading to the beach, being able to swim enables you to have a lifelong love of the water.”
You can find your local Swimming NZ Registered Swim School on our website.
There is no time like the present to integrate swimming into your lifestyle. We encourage you to get involved by heading to your favourite waterhole or local pool and invite your friends along to join you as it’s better with your mates. You won’t regret getting active in the water and Unlocking Your Greatness.
Check out our website for ways to get active in the water
We invite you to join us on this exciting new venture and Unlock Your Greatness in the water. Your support and participation will help make a remarkable difference. Stay tuned for upcoming information and make sure to keep an eye out and follow our journey on our social media platforms.
