KEY POINTS:
Former Commonwealth Games swimming star, Jaynie Hudgell (nee Parkhouse), is backing more golden times for Swimming New Zealand.
Hudgell, who won a gold medal in the 1974 Commonwealth Games, her husband, Craig, and their business partners and friends, Chris and Marie Boon, will back Swimming New Zealand as a sponsor for the next four years under their company Absolute Insurance.
The annual sponsorship is additional to a scheme that will enable swimming clubs to also raise more funding.
The sponsorship kicks off at next week's Absolute Insurance world championship swimming trials in Auckland.
Hudgell said that they had always wanted to give something back to the sport that has played a key part in their lives.
"Both Craig and I got a tremendous amount out of swimming, especially the benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle and in competitive sport at a high level," Hudgell said.
"But most of all swimming provided us with many of the tools that have been instrumental in developing our character both in and out of the water."
The Hudgells had followed swimming closely and had been impressed with the management of Swimming New Zealand.
"We felt it was the right time to get behind the sport," said Jaynie Hudgell, who will also become a Swimming New Zealand ambassador.
Swimming New Zealand chief executive Paul Veric said his organisation was delighted and humbled with the support.
"We are also thrilled that swimming clubs throughout the country will have the opportunity be able to directly benefit financially."
- NZPA
