Ironman makes a splash

Cory Hutchings, here holding 13-month-old Susie Cooper, says parents can help their children to gain confidence in the water. Photo / Richard Robinson

The kiddie side of the pool is not exactly where you would expect triple world surf ironman champion Cory Hutchings to be splashing.

But that's exactly where the sportsman is this summer, heading a new swimming campaign aimed at getting parents into the pool, in a bid to get children to gain confidence in the water.

Hutchings, who is working with the Little Swimmers Pool Buddy programme, says children are more likely to be confident in the water when their first lessons are with someone they are close to - such as a parent.

"Children have different personalities and they all feel the water differently," he says.

"I think New Zealand parents do a great job. The key is to give kids opportunities to build water confidence early and then book them into more formal swimming lessons when they're ready."

The programme is sponsored by the nappy company Huggies. For more information visit: www.huggies.co.nz