Local swimmers took the plunge at Aylestone Leisure Centre yesterday (Thursday January 5th) to promote the launch of Swimathon 2012.

Kicking off a massive year of sport, Loughborough-based Olympic Finalist and Commonwealth gold medallist Caitlin McClatchey, Commonwealth silver medallists Joe Roebuck and Matt Bowe and the UK’s oldest lifeguard 78-year- old, Harry Williams from Leicester, joined local swimmers in the pool to provide coaching tips.

Now in its 25th year, Swimathon has joined forces with British Swimming’s and the BBC’s Big Splash, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Sport Relief to hold the world’s biggest fundraising swim.  

Participants can swim the Big Splash Mile for Sport Relief or the 2.5k and 5k distance challenges for Marie Curie Cancer Care. The event is taking place in 645 pools throughout the UK from 27th to 29th April. 

A half price discount applies to the first 10,000 full price Swimathon Weekend online Distance Challenge entries submitted and paid for before 31 January 2012.

Swimmers can register to take part in a Swimathon Weekend challenge at swimathon.org

All pictures courtesy of Soar Magazine’s photographic partner Soar Photo.