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Opportunity Scholarship - Jonathan Carlisle

Jonny Carlisle is a talented backstroker who has swum at the highest level representing GB multiple times. After achieving national swimming success with help from the Futures Fund, Jonny is now helping the next generation of swimmers to follow in his footsteps. 

Jonny’s initial association with the Futures Fund came when he was provided with the money to travel to London to compete in the Trials for the 2012 Olympics. A strong fifth place in the 100m backstroke at the event only served to whet his appetite to perform at the highest level, and two years later he would be crowned national champion in the 200m backstroke. 

For Jonny, the support he received from the Futures Fund has made an immeasurable difference to his life. 

“The Futures Fund literally changed my life,” he said.

After these successes, Jonny decided to retire temporally from swimming and has gone on to open his own swimming school, Swim City GB, which is based in Sunderland. Amongst their recent pupils are Rio 2016 Paralympic Gold medallist Matt Wylie and Bronze medallist Josef Craig. 

He said: “I have always wanted to open a swimming school so I decided to go with it and make a school where quality and the level of teaching are at the highest standard. 

“We live so close to water and I think knowledge on water safety in children is nonexistent, so I am going round schools promoting the business and also trying to get points across about healthy eating and learning to swim.” 

Jonny, who opened the business with his sister Stacy Carlisle, is trying to pass on their knowledge to the younger generation using their own teaching manual.   

He said: “We want to make sure children enjoy the sport and want to stay in swimming for a long time.  For me the most important thing is getting every child and adult in the area to learn to swim. 

“We teach babies from six weeks old all the way to adults, where my oldest is 55 at the moment.” 

Jonathan concluded: “ I don’t want to hold on to children, as soon as they are good enough they will be advised to go to a club where they can improve more and more and hopefully be future GB swimmers.” 

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Jonny Carlisle Swim City

Jonny Carlisle Swim City

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