Paralympian swimmer and double Rio 2016 medallist Alice Tai (17) was at the newly opened BH Live Active, Corfe Mullen in East Dorset last week to check out the pool and hear more about how BH Live is enabling more people of all ages and abilities to take part in sport, health and wellbeing activities.
Social enterprise and venue operator BH Live acquired the lease for the site in January 2016. Following a substantial investment programme, the centre reopened in November 2016.
BH Live Active, Corfe Mullen features the latest, high-tech gym and studio equipment, the full Les Mills class programme, and a 23m swimming pool.
Impressed by what she saw, Alice praised the social enterprise’s commitment to make community swimming, lessons and aquatic activities available to all.
“It’s great to see the pool now ready for the whole community to use with a programme to encourage lots more people to get into the water,” she says.
Alice was born with bilateral talipes – commonly known as club foot. After numerous operations, Alice is now able to walk but her ankles are fused at a 900 angle. Classified as a disability swimmer, Alice qualified in 2010 as an S10 swimmer allowing her to take part in international competitions, winning medals at paralympic, world and European levels. At Rio 2016, Alice competed in five events taking Gold in the Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay and an Individual Bronze medal in the Women’s S10 100m Backstroke.
“Swimming has opened up so many opportunities for me to compete and travel the world, thanks to the efforts of my parents to get me swimming when I was only six. As we lived so close to the sea, they wanted to make sure I was safe in the water. I loved the being in the water and didn’t feel at a disadvantage at all. To be able to go on to compete on the world stage doing something I love is a massive bonus – and if more public facilities like this can get more people into the water, then I think that’s just brilliant.”
To find out more about BH Live Active, Corfe Mullen and other BH Live centres, visit bhliveactive.org.uk
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Notes to editors:
Photo-caption:
Alice is pictured at BH Live Active, Corfe Mullen with Recreation Assistants, James Brown, left, and James Davies, right.
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Elizabeth Symmons, PR & Corporate Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
T: (01202) 055562
About BH Live Active, Corfe Mullen
BH Live Active, Corfe Mullen opened in November 2016.
A vibrant community hub, it consists of a pool, gym, studios, a Terrace Café and tennis courts.
Life Fitness equipment kits out the gym, and weekly group fitness classes are programmed into the studios. A learn to swim programme for adults and children, together with the 813 Club and Kids’ Zone, will launch in 2017 and help families take part in physical activity together.
More health and wellbeing activities will be introduced in partnership with local healthcare providers. These include an exercise referral activity programme aimed at encouraging and supporting people with health conditions into physical activity.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk
About BH Live
BH Live is the south coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues; a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives.
Get social with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter @BHLIVE_UK