The pool kids are set to be the cool kids now that the Hay River Swim Club has been revived after a long hiatus.

Once a successful swim club in town, Julie Malenfant, one of the coaches for the newly formed Hay River Swim Club, said the club used to have SA国际影视传媒渟ome really decent swimmers.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淪o hopefully we can have the same kind of quality team that they did.SA国际影视传媒�

Malenfant said the previous team numbers had dwindled over the past five years.

SA国际影视传媒淭hen Covid put an end to it completely,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Gradually over the past two years, however, a few swimmers would meet up unofficially to do a few laps and soon that piqued the interest of four or five more swimmers, said Malenfant, who, along with fellow parent Nancy Stanley, got involved in organizing the swims for the kids.

SA国际影视传媒淲e practised a couple of times a week, nothing official, we would just have fun,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hen, there was more interest over the summer and into the fall and we decided we would become official and be an official team again.SA国际影视传媒�

The team made an application to be part of Swim Alberta and just before Christmas was accepted, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd so, we are officially back on the map when it comes to having swimmers qualify and able to compete.SA国际影视传媒�

The club now has 13 registered swimmers between the ages of nine and 13. Both Malenfant and Stanley, with the support of aquatics supervisor Mike Scott, are coaching the team.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey are all very much beginners and now hopefully the swim club keeps growing,SA国际影视传媒� Malenfant said.

And as the kids are registered in the national database of swimmers, Malenfant said they can compete in competitions.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are going to Yellowknife for territorials in a couple of weeksSA国际影视传媒� time, and then hopefully we will be able to host a meet next fall,SA国际影视传媒� she said, adding that the teams in Hay River and Yellowknife are presently the only two in the NWT.

Before the end of the swim season, which aligns with the school year, Malenfant said they may look at opportunities for swim meets in Alberta as well.

While she said that swimming can often be a supplemental sport for kids SA国际影视传媒� one that is neither too expensive or stressful in which to participate SA国际影视传媒� now they will learn what it means to be a swimmer in competition.

SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of kids were there for the fun of it but now a lot of them are looking more and more intrigued in the actual sport,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚ncreased activity of any sport is good for your health. It promotes activity and well-being. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 good for the heart, itSA国际影视传媒檚 good for the muscles, itSA国际影视传媒檚 good for the joints.

SA国际影视传媒淔or older adults, itSA国际影视传媒檚 a great sport when it comes to injury reduction. They like it for that, but I think they just like swimming and they see an opportunity to make a sport out of it and they enjoy it,SA国际影视传媒� she added.

For those considering learning to swim, the best way to start is to go through basic swim lessons the rec centre offers, Malenfant said.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey teach you the very basics - how to float, put your face in the water, blow bubbles. If you really like that and you enjoy doing laps, then swim club might be something that interests you.SA国际影视传媒�