Olympic swimmer gives BBC staff top tips

Charlotte Benton said advice from an Olympian helped her complete the challenge

A BBC Radio Shropshire journalist who swam more than 300 lengths for charity said getting advice from an Olympic swimmer was "a great honour".

Charlotte Benton, 25, has been swimming for most of her life so jumped at the chance to take part in the Children in Need Big Swim.

On Monday and then Thursday she completed 348 lengths which took about four hours overall.

But she said having local Olympic swimmer Oliver Morgan scrutinise her technique before the challenge helped her to go the full distance.

Twenty-one year-old Morgan, from Bishop's Castle, competed with Team GB at Paris 2024 in the men's 4x100m medley relay and 100m backstroke final.

He gave Charlotte pointers on her technique before she took on the challenge.

"He pulled out what was wrong with my technique immediately so that I could ultimately improve my performance and increase my stamina," she said.

"He picked up that I had a wonky left hand and that was what was hurting me during the swim.

"I've been swimming most of my life, I always aspired to be [an Olympian]."

Olympian Oliver Morgan also joined the full team on their final day of swimming

Charlotte and her colleagues, Adam Green, Carlie Swain, Tim Barnes and Mark Elliott, swam more than 24 miles (39km) over four days to raise money for Children in Need.

It was part of a wider challenge for all local radio stations to collectively swim 1,000 miles (1,609km).

"It made me feel strong, because I swam the furthest distance I ever had," said Charlotte.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself to complete a good distance, the furthest distance, but the challenge wasn’t about that, it was about equal opportunity and working together to complete our part of the challenge.

"It's been lovely to hear the donations going up and up each day; to hear we’d raised a little bit more money, that definitely spurred us on to keep going."

Mark Elliot said he found out through the advice from Morgan that "I naturally sink"

Mark Elliott, 38, completed the most lengths out of their team despite not having swum seriously since he completed his 800m swimming badge at school.

"I got some really good tips off Ollie, mostly around keeping my legs and bum elevated," he said.

"Apparently, I naturally sink."

"In the end, I had to totally relearn how to swim, breathe and position myself in the water."

As well as relearning the skill, he added that he bought buoyancy shorts to "aid me in my floatation".

Mark swam 386 lengths in two sessions including 5km (3.1miles) in one go which was three times further than he had ever swum before.

"I enjoyed doing it and will continue to swim in the future," he said.

"I've got skills that will last me a lifetime."

Collectively, BBC colleagues across the country have raised more than £100,000 for Children in Need.