Webchat with Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington and her mum Kay (plus a chance to win a pool party for your child!), TODAY, Thursday 15 November, 12.30-1.30pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Olympic medallist Rebecca Adlington and her mum, Kay, are joining us on Thursday 15 November at 12.30pm for a live webchat. As well as talking about her own experiences as an Olympic swimmer, Kay will be sharing what it was like getting up every morning to take her daughter swimming for all those many years!

Rebecca will also be offering advice on how to get your children and you to enjoy swimming. Rebecca is currently working with Speedo on their Learn To Swim campaign, which was launched in response to research findings that an astonishing 40% of children can't swim. Join Rebecca at 12.30pm on Thurs or send a question in advance to this thread.

Rebecca and Kay have also just launched 'The S Factor' competition inviting kids under ten to draw a new sea character to join the Speedo Sea Squad. Anyone can enter at www.mumsnet.com/microsites/speedo until 29 November. The winner will be chosen by Rebecca and Kay and will win a free pool party hosted by Rebecca herself and the Speedo Sea Squad. The winning design will join the Sea Squad as an honorary member to front the campaign encouraging kids to take the plunge.

[KayAdlington]

Hi I'm here, great to be at Mumsnet this morning answering your questions

[RebeccaAdlington]

@blondieminx

Hello Rebecca, congratulations and just want to say really well done for being such a great role model for little girls me and my 2 year old were cheering you on in front of the telly during the Olympics!

Question for Rebecca: what was your favourite bit of the Olympics?

Question for Kay: congrats on raising such a fabulously talented girl! What's Rebecca's favourite thing to eat on big event days?

Hello

Nice to speak to you. My favourite bit of the games was the podium for my 800 freestyle where i won bronze. Was very emotional but the crowds reaction was amazing. everyone chanting my name and clapping was just so nice. Very heart warming moment.

My favourite thing to eat is pasta when i have a competition. But i snack on banana's, cereal bars throughout the day if i get hungry.

Thank you

Becky

[KayAdlington]

@ThePathanKhansWitch

Hello Rebecca , you're amazing and such an inspiration.Congratulations on another great Olympics.

My question is for your Mum.

Hello Kay, can i say congratulations to you for having such a lovely and talented daughter.
Kay how hard was it for you,when Rebecca was younger, getting to training, heats etc? Did your family life suffer? Financially i imagine as a family a lot of sacrifices were made.

Sports funding is pitiful, what do you think the Government could do to support talented youngsters, who perhaps don,t have such
dedicated support?

Rebecca was the Olympic Village a hot bed of sin ?

As you say getting the balance right is hard. As a family we were lucky as our other 2 daughter's also swam, so most saturday's were spent in a pool chasing PB's by one or more of them.
Morning training with Becky was hard, as the alarm clock would go off around 4.30am five mornings a week.!!
Lottery funding is invaluable to most athletes and Becky was very grateful for hers, it made alot of difference.

[VLF99]

Hi Rebecca and Kay

My daughter is a really keen swimmer - she's only 9 so has just started competing but has qualified for most events for her county championships next year.

Rebecca - you are her absolute idol - she has pictures of you all over her wall. It would make her day if you could say hello to her (Isabella) and give her any advice.

Thanks so much

[RebeccaAdlington]

@TheDoctrineOfSnatch

How exciting! Many congratulations on your performance at the Olympics, Rebecca, DH was lucky enough to watch you race.

Do you still love swimming as much as when you started?

hello!

I do still love swimming just as much if not more. I love swimming and will always swim. Even when im old i will still be going!! Its an amazing sport and can do it at any age!

Thank you!

Becky

[KayAdlington]

@thatlldopigthatlldo

Hello Rebecca and Kay,

My eldest child is 8 and appears to be a very talented runner and cyclist. He currently varies his week around bmx, road racing and athletics club activities. How old was Rebecca when she showed that she had a talent for swimming? and was it always swimming, or were there other sports that may have been another direction she could have followed but a point when a decision had to be made on which path to follow.

Another question (i know it's one question each but hey), this same child refuses to have swimming lessons because he says he can already swim. He can't swim and he's most offended that I have questioned his conviction that he can actually swim. Just what exactly am I supposed to do with him? He's not afraid of the water, just that he thinks he can swim and he can't.

Hi, nice to talk to you, Becky was 4 when she started lessons, she always loved being in the water, but didn't really start making GB teams until she was about 13 years old.

My honest advice, would be not to push him, but I know how you feel about him not really being able to swim. It's a life skill we parents like to know they can master.

Does his school do lessons, will he find out for himself by being in a class of other children who may be able to swim better?

[RebeccaAdlington]

@Vijac

Hello Rebecca and Kay. Congratulations on your Olympic medals Rebecca. When did you learn to swim and when did you start competing? What got you into swimming seriously and are you glad that you did (or did other bits of growing up suffer). Oops lots of questions

helloo!!!

Thank you.

I started swimming when i was around 3/4 years old. My parents took me and my 2 older sisters along just to learn how to swim as its a lifeskill!

I started competing in relay events at 9 then individual events at 10. I made my first British Swimming Team when i was 14.

I got into swimming through my parents taking me and my 2 older sisters. They were better and faster than me as they were older and i wanted to catch them up! Being the baby of the family i just wanted to be around them and in the same lane as them!

I started taking it seriously when i was around 14. I realised how much i loved it and getting up at 5am didnt scare me as i loved it!

Thank you

Becky

[KayAdlington]

@lionheart

That must be a mumsnet first. Mother and daughter chat.

Hi, very happy to be here at Mumsnet, always feels go to do a 'first'.

[RebeccaAdlington]

@Swappedatbirth

Dear Rebecca, I simply wanted to comment on the unbelievably brave and intelligent way in which you have dealt with the Internet bullies you've infuriatingly encountered before, during and after your marvellous achievements. Having been bullied myself as a young person I know only too well the horror of such treatment and you should be as proud of your ability to rise above such rubbish as you are of your swimming success. I have a six year old daughter whom I adore and if she grows up to have even a couple of your attributes I will be as delighted as I'm sure your mother already is.

hi,

Thank you so much for your lovely kind words. Means alot to me.

I hope your daughter loves to swim!!

All the best

Becky

[nuckingfackered]

Hello Rebecca and Kay, Rebecca you are my 12 yr old daughter's inspiration, thank you so much for giving her such an amazing role model to follow. She trains and competes for our local swimming club and is starting to show real promise as a competitive swimmer. What advise can you give her to help deal with the highs and lows of competitive swimming and improve as an athlete?

Kay please can I ask you what one peice of advise you would give me as the mum of a young potential competitive swimmer?

Thank you both very much

[KayAdlington]

@blondieminx

Hello Rebecca, congratulations and just want to say really well done for being such a great role model for little girls me and my 2 year old were cheering you on in front of the telly during the Olympics!

Question for Rebecca: what was your favourite bit of the Olympics?

Question for Kay: congrats on raising such a fabulously talented girl! What's Rebecca's favourite thing to eat on big event days?

Hi, Kay here, Becky's top food for big day events would be pasta bases and she usually snacks on fruit, ie, bananas etc. Hope that helps, Kay

[RebeccaAdlington]

@GW297

My question is: Were there times in the past when you felt like giving up and how did you overcome that?

Fortunately there wasnt any times i wanted to give up. I love swimming. There was obviously really tough times but my love for the sport and my drive to succeed helped me get through those moments. I knew there was another swimmer around the world doing the work which helped me and kept me motivated. Also having a home olympics is a great motivated!! ;-)

Thank you
Becky

[KayAdlington]

@Swappedatbirth

Dear Rebecca, I simply wanted to comment on the unbelievably brave and intelligent way in which you have dealt with the Internet bullies you've infuriatingly encountered before, during and after your marvellous achievements. Having been bullied myself as a young person I know only too well the horror of such treatment and you should be as proud of your ability to rise above such rubbish as you are of your swimming success. I have a six year old daughter whom I adore and if she grows up to have even a couple of your attributes I will be as delighted as I'm sure your mother already is.

Hi, from one mum to another, thank you so much. Your daughter is so lucky to have a great mum. Kay

[RebeccaAdlington]

@Doilooklikeatourist

Hi Kay and Rebecca .

Rebecca , I think you're lovely , I watched the Olympics on TV ( all of it I think ) and you were so gracious when being interviewed after the race .

I work in a health club and help out with swimming lessons , I find it so stressful with the small children who think they can swim but can't .

I don't have a question about sport , just wanted to congratulate you both .

Thank you so much. Very lovely and nice of you to say.

Good luck to you as well :-)

Becky

[KayAdlington]

@Doilooklikeatourist

Hi Kay and Rebecca .

Rebecca , I think you're lovely , I watched the Olympics on TV ( all of it I think ) and you were so gracious when being interviewed after the race .

I work in a health club and help out with swimming lessons , I find it so stressful with the small children who think they can swim but can't .

I don't have a question about sport , just wanted to congratulate you both .

Hi, Kay here, just wanted to say keep up the good work. Parents like to know their children are learning a very important life skill and having fun at the same time, so what you do is REALLY important. Thanks.

[DazR]

Hi Rerbecca (and Mum!), I have an 18 year old daughter who has been a competitive swimmer since she was 8 - swimming in county and regional champs. Medalled in 1500m at age 12 in regionals. She was diagnosed with CFS/ME almost 2 years ago and had to stop swimming. This year she was found to be Vitamin B12 deficient and is now on regular injections and improving all the time (this may have been the problem all along). She has said she thinks that you also recovered from illness - is this true? And, if so, how did you get back your fitness? She is really frustrated at not being able to swim/compete at the moment and has had a really tough time. We all cheered you on through all your events in the olympics. Well done.

[RebeccaAdlington]

@TractorKate

Hi Rebecca and Kay, congratulations on your amazing achievements Rebecca at this year's olympics. I managed to see some diving at the aquatic centre during the olympics and thought the stadium was amazing. did you manage to s ee much of the games? What were your highlights apart from your own races? What was it really like living at olympic village?

hello

unfortunately i only managed to watch the swimming and open water events and thats it. They were brilliant though but no other sports. Was too busy! Saw alot of the TV though!

my highlight from the games was my 800 freestyle podium. Winning a bronze was incredible and very emotional! Couldnt hold back the tears. The crowd was amazing, everyone chanting my name was very special and a memory i'll never forget.

The Olympic village was amazing. Was like apartments inside. The dining hall and facilities were incredible though, the best ive ever seen!!

Thank you

Becky

[AncientsOfMuMu]

Hi Rebecca and Kay,

My 11 year old son swims at regional level and competes at a few open meets throughout the year. He struggles to eat more than a few snacks like dried fruit on the days he competes and won't eat breakfast if competing. Do you think this is a problem? He eats well the rest of the time.

[ajandjjmum]

Hi Both
My son was a Games Maker at the Aquatics Centre, and saw you on a couple of occasions Becky - quite a highlight when you turned up!
On a serious note, my father saw his best friend drown at 11, and was always determined we would swim (almost before walking!). It's a great competitive sport, and so much fun to watch, but such an important lifeskill too!
Continued good luck for the future Becky!

[KayAdlington]

@TractorKate

Hi Rebecca and Kay, congratulations on your amazing achievements Rebecca at this year's olympics. I managed to see some diving at the aquatic centre during the olympics and thought the stadium was amazing. did you manage to s ee much of the games? What were your highlights apart from your own races? What was it really like living at olympic village?

Hi TractorKate, Kay here, we were very lucky to be able to get tickets to watch both of Becky's events during the games. It was very special to watch her in a Home Olympics where the home crowds were absolutely amazing throughout the whole experience.
One of the highlights for me personally outside of the pool was the fantastic way all the games makers handled things - they were awesome.

[RebeccaAdlington]

@DinosaurSchool

Hi Rebecca and Kay

I was lucky enough to have sweated blood and tears to have got Olympic tickets including your 800m final. Congratulations on the bronze! It truly is an amazing achievement.

I wonder what your feelings are about the criticism that British swimming came in for after the Olympics especially when unfavourably compared to the rowers and cyclists. Do you think that any sport can be transformed like British cycling?

Also (cheeky second question!) what do you see yourself doing in 10 years?

hello

Thank you for the congratulations! Hope you enjoyed watching!

Swimming is a very different sport to the other olympic sports. We have about 150 countries competing in the swimming so is extremely tough. We had the most finalists and semi-finalists we've ever had so we did do well just obviously didnt get as many medals as the rowers/cyclists.

ohhh 10years!!! thats a long time. I would like to be married and maybe kids! But i will definitely still be swimming. Maybe not at a competitive level!

Thank you

Becky

[RebeccaAdlington]

@Spree

Hi Rebecca & Kay

Well done to Rebecca - I have questions for both of you.

I have a DD age 8 who is starting pre-competitive swim training. What should she be doing at this age as far as training is concerned? She currently does a school swim squad once a week, private swim squad twice a week (including any stroke correction). How can I help her keep the momentum up so she doesn't burn out before the critical teen years?

Kay, as a mum, how do you think you walk that fine line between being supportive mum & pushy mum??

Thanks!

Hello

Thank you for your question.

I would say what she's doing sounds amazing and enough. it depends on her progress. If shes getting faster or finding it easier you can step it up abit but if not adapt it as you see fit. It should be a challenge but not too much that its killing her!! When she's 9 she can start doing gala's which will be really fun ;-)

Thank you

becky

[Solo]

Hi Rebecca, no questions really, but just to say Congratulations!!! on London 2012 Olympics :)

Hello to Kay too :) you must be sooo proud

My 5yo is going to swimming lessons, but I have to say that I don't find it encouraging to watch a small trainer pool, halved down the middle by a rope and then up to 12 kids each side of that rope trying to learn to swim in 30 mins a week! it seems to be all about getting the most money out of parents these days. Not sure how kids are meant to get to your level Rebecca.

[KayAdlington]

@nuckingfackered

Hello Rebecca and Kay, Rebecca you are my 12 yr old daughter's inspiration, thank you so much for giving her such an amazing role model to follow. She trains and competes for our local swimming club and is starting to show real promise as a competitive swimmer. What advise can you give her to help deal with the highs and lows of competitive swimming and improve as an athlete?

Kay please can I ask you what one peice of advise you would give me as the mum of a young potential competitive swimmer?

Thank you both very much

Hi there, Kay here, I found that being organised really helped me balance all the things we mums need to & have to do within a busy day. I know it sometimes feels hard to do, but finding ten minutes at the end of the day to organise for the next day really helped to start the next day off well. Also, remember your daughter is swimming because she loves the sport, so try to enjoy it with her, share the good and bad together.
Hope that helps, good to talk to you.

[RebeccaAdlington]

@EnglishGirlApproximately

Hi Rebecca and Kay :)

Do you find it odd to see your name on signposts around Mansfield now and have you been to Sherwood Baths to swim since they were renamed in your honour?

Kay - how has your life changed since Rebecca became so celebrated?

Its great to have such a positive female role model from my home town and we are all very proud of you. Well done on your amazing achievements.

hello!

Thank you!!

I love being home. Mansfield will always be home to me just as Sherwood Baths will always be Sherwood Baths. Amazing that its now named after myself though. I hope that another little swimmer can develop from there, its a fantastic pool!

becky