Swimming is a vital part of the healthy cognitive and physical development of children, and our progressive programme is designed to support our water babies as they swim to success both in and out of the pool. It’s incredible to see Water Babies graduates achieving milestones and pursuing successful swimming careers after graduating with us. Read on to hear from former water baby Naeve, about how her lessons as a child fostered a deep love of the water that has driven her to incredible achievements in the world of competitive swimming.
Beginning my swimming journey
My name is Naeve Pountney, I’m 19 years old and I live in Bangor in Northern Ireland, right beside the sea! My journey began at the young age at eight weeks old, when my mum introduced me to Water Babies lessons in Northampton, back in 2004. It was important to my mum to get me in the water as early as possible to teach me key water safety skills, build my confidence and get me loving the water.
This is where we met Water Babies franchisee Tamsin, who then became my very first swimming teacher! Tamsin had just started her business in Milton Keynes, so I had the pleasure of being one of her first babies and I loved every second of it! While it’s a bit far back for me to remember, mum said my favourite toys were the fish we used to chase around the pool which then progressed into sinkers as I got older. Both my mum and I instantly fell in love with the lessons and the water, and the positive experience of them definitely starting me on the path to where I am today.
Taking the plunge into competitive swimming
After completing three years of Water Babies lessons, my family made a move to the New Forest, Hampshire, where I continued to swim at Shirley Swim school in Southampton. I was asked to join the club when I was nine years old, and the early morning training became a big part of my everyday life.
This pool had four lanes, two diving blocks without ledges and rain coming through the roof, but it had the best coach in Chris White! When I was asked to join the club, I don’t think my parents realised the commitment of competitive swimming, especially living 40 minutes away from the pool. I remember being very tired when I first started the early morning training, but I don’t remember struggling as much as I enjoyed it. From taking that first step and joining the club I caught the bug for competitive swimming and even met my best friend Sophie, who is still a part of my life today!
At the age of ten, in my first year of competing, I swam county and regional competitions in Hampshire and the South East of England. At the age of 13, I moved to Bangor in Northern Ireland to be closer to my mum’s family, where I started swimming with Bangor Swimming Club before moving to Ards Swimming Club after the pandemic. I’m beyond grateful to my parents for all the years they had to drive me to training at 5am, taking a nap in the car whilst waiting for me to finish!
Where I am today
I’m currently in Bangor Aurora where I’ve been given the opportunity to train under the National Centre Ulster and coach Kevin Anderson, continuing to pursue my dedication to swimming and grow my love for the sport.
Training forms an enormous part of my everyday life, with my typical routine consisting of nine 2-hour swim sessions as well as three gym sessions per week with three core meets that we train for each year in December, April and July. Many teenagers might view this as a chore, getting up to do anything at 5am four times a week. I don’t see my routine, and the impact it’s had on my lifestyle, as a sacrifice but rather a choice I have made to do something that makes me happy. I’m aspiring to be the best I can be, and every day is one step closer to getting faster and reaching my goals.
In the pool, I become a completely different person; the water and physical activity of my training sessions provides a great release for me. In the past, if I'd had a bad day at school for example, all I would need to do is jump into the pool and I would instantly forget about everything else. But it’s not only an environment that benefits me emotionally, it’s an environment where I excel as an athlete, and I am deeply grateful to Water Babies for their guidance and support on my journey.
The enjoyment of the sport is what truly drives me in the pool. It’s not a glamorous sport, that’s for sure! But being surrounded by people who love having the same commitment as I do is extremely rewarding. I do sometimes get to enjoy my life out of the pool as well, going for brunch and coffee dates with my friends and walking my dog, Fergus. I’m very lucky to have a coach that is understanding of how much we sacrifice in the pursuit of our goals, so when I asked for a session off to see Taylor Swift, he didn’t seem to mind!
So far in my career, I’ve had the chance to compete for my club, Ards, my former school, Regent House Grammar, and Ulster, which has allowed me to achieve success winning both medals at Irish Nationals and Ulster championships. Swimming competitively has also given me the chance to travel to different countries. With the support of Water Babies, I was able to train in Torremolinos, Spain for two weeks during April 2024. The opportunity to travel to various destinations serves as a driving force for us as swimmers and keeps us motivated to continue with our training. Swimming has truly played a pivotal role in shaping the person I have become today; I don’t know where I would be if I hadn’t joined my first club!
Looking forward
Looking to the future, my goal is to compete on the Irish National team and represent my country at a higher competitive level. Recently, I took a step towards achieving this by swimming in the Irish Olympic Trials 2024, something I’m very proud of myself for. Representing Ireland will require further dedication and hard work on my part, but I am prepared to rise to the challenge. As a young woman, I have noticed the lack of girls staying in the sport as I’ve progressed to a higher level, and also the distinct lack of female coaches. This makes it all the more exciting and inspiring to see a number of young women who I’ve competed against making the team to go to Paris in August! I believe that there is huge opportunity for young girls and women in the world of swimming and I hope that by sharing my journey, from my Water Babies lessons to competing and winning medals on a national level, I can encourage the next generation of women in swimming to keep aspiring to higher targets and keep pushing themselves to be the best they can be at whatever they put their minds to.
Swimming is a huge commitment, but I strongly encourage parents to involve their children in the sport from a young age. Not only does it teach valuable life skills, but it also allows you to meet new people, form genuine friendships, and ultimately have fun. I really hope my story inspires you to get your little ones into the pool. You never know, your child could be a part of the next generation of competitive swimmers!