Swimming: Brodie takes look at life in fast lane

Brodie Mackereth is the meat sandwiched between Olympians Moss Burmester and Melissa Ingram. His Super Swim Squad inclusion was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Photo/Supplied

A 9-year-old Whangarei boy has been put through his paces by Kiwi swimming Olympians Melissa Ingram and Moss Burmester.

Brodie Mackereth was taken for a three-day training camp at the Tepid Baths in Auckland by Ingram and Burmester as part of the Jetstar Super Swim Squad, after qualifying as the fastest boy in his age group in the Bay of Islands Classic OceanKids Swim in December 2013.

At the time of qualifying for the training camp in the last weekend of April, Brodie's mum had said the point of him taking part in the Bay of Islands swim was purely to participate and be active.

"I was really proud of him, because it's not easy to get out in the ocean," she said.

"I think it's a big thing for them to get in and do that, it's quite an achievement - he was quite proud of himself.

"We just wanted them [the Mackereth family children] all to be competent swimmers," she said in December.

There's no doubt that with Brodie's experience he is bound to be a competent swimmer. His invitation to be part of the Super Swim Squad was described by organisers as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Last year members of the swim squad attended a camp at which sessions were run by world champion triathlete Rick Wells with assistance from Olympic swimmers Danyon Loader and Lauren Boyle.

The Jetstar Super Swim Squad is a three-day intensive camp at which 30 children aged 6 to 10 from throughout the country travel to Auckland for the specialist training sessions and coaching from Burmester and Ingram and world champion triathlete Rick Wells.

Qualifying members learn skills to equip them in pool and ocean environments.

Children also take part in exclusive motivational sessions, giving them a forum to ask questions about nutrition, training and setting goals.