Team South Lanarkshire’s swimmers are aiming to dive right in to the International Children’s Games next month.
The aquatic quartet is looking forward to competing in the prestigious competition next month.
Dean Barghati, who attends Holy Cross High in Hamilton will join Thomas Traynor from St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High in East Kilbride, Emma McGavin of Uddingston Grammar and and Rebecca Cole from Larkhall Academy at the games in Coventry, which begin on August 11.
The team’s coach, Gordon McGavin, said: “ICG Coventry is an amazing opportunity for my swimmers to represent their county at a truly international stage.
“It’s great to see South Lanarkshire Council support sport on this stage because the promotion of healthy lifestyles and positive sporting images should be demonstrated to encourage every child to aspire to it.
“Fitness, sport, fun, networking and true dedication and self-reliance are all quality attributes that, as adults, we should be promoting from school level for every child, and participation in sport at every level is paramount to future wellbeing and healthy lifestyles.”
Dean Barghati, who swims for the Hamilton Baths Club, said: “I am really excited for the games – getting the chance to meet and compete with athletes from across the world is amazing.
“Emma and Rebecca are from the same club as me and Thomas is from East Kilbride ASC, so it’s great to be going to Coventry as a team, and hopefully we can win some medals.”
Keeping it in the family, Coach Gordon is looking forward to watching his daughter, Emma, compete.
He said: “My swim relationship with Emma involves three very different forms. First, of course, I am dad, being the early-morning taxi, preparing food (a lot for hungry swimmers), giving up weekends for competitions and like all parents, offering emotional support.
“Secondly, I am a team mate, as I’m still training with Hamilton Baths ASC masters, which means I can even race against the young athletes I coach. We can be training together, giving Emma the opportunity to beat me on sprints, and we can inspire each other to reach our full potential and goals in the pool.”
He added: “There are even swim sessions where I’m in the pool with all three of my daughters. When we’re pushing off the wall together on repeats, it’s a good thing goggles can hide my tears!
“And thirdly, I’m a coach. When you are part of a team and involved with lots of enthusiastic and committed young athletes, the relationship changes. It’s not ‘Dad’ or ‘team mate’ any more, it’s all about fulfilling each individual athlete’s potential.”
South Lanarkshire will be sending a team of four young people, Emma Clark, Owen Murphy, Tehillah Chioma Ikechukwu Okonkwo and Angus Wilkinson, to compete in athletics.
To be eligible to represent Team South Lanarkshire, participants must live in South Lanarkshire, go to school in South Lanarkshire or be a member of a South Lanarkshire club.
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