Athlete hopes challenge will encourage swimmers

Filip Nowacki has competed in national and international competitions

A Jersey swimmer hopes the Children in Need Thousand Mile Challenge will encourage more people to get into the pool.

Staff at BBC radio stations across the British Isles, including Radio Jersey, will swim 1,000 miles to raise money for the charity which supports local causes in the island.

Filip Nowacki broke the British age group record for 16-year-olds in the 100m breaststroke earlier this year and has competed against the likes of Adam Peaty.

He has been advising the BBC Jersey team on how to complete the challenge.

Filip Nowacki gave swimming tips to the BBC Jersey team who are doing the Thousand Mile Challenge

Nowacki became the first islander to win three Commonwealth Youth Games medals last year.

He said the challenge could “inspire some youngsters” and urged people to “get in the pool with a bunch of friends and have fun”.

Nowacki added: “Technique should be the main focus throughout the first part of the session and then you can think about power and endurance throughout the swim”.

The Thousand Mile Challenge starts on Monday and finishes on 8 November with BBC Jersey’s team completing the challenge at AquaSplash pool.