Learn to swim and try the Trunx 1K Family Challenge

Trunx Olympic 1k Family Challenge

We set our Big Splash mascot Trunx the task of coming up with some fun things to inspire families to make a splash during the Olympics! One of things he came up with was a 10-week family fun Olympic 1K Challenge. Don't worry, it is nowhere near as hard as it sounds.

Did you know that elephants can swim? They can and young elephants especially love swimming and diving. So when we were looking for a mascot for the Big Splash it had to be an elephant.

Our water-loving elephant Trunx loves coming up with new ways to make a Big Splash. His latest idea is the Olympic 1K Family Challenge. The idea is simple. Have as much fun as possible and suddenly you can swim a kilometer as a family. Fancy the challenge? Then read on.

Number crunching

It’s based on 4 people in a family, 2 children and 2 adults, but the more the merrier.
Your children should be able to swim about 100m each.
It is based on one visit to a 25m pool a week but you can go more if you want to.

The Challenge

Week 1
Follow Trunx’s example and try our Tail-Trunk Swim. Each child should be swimming beside the adult holding their arm (‘trunk’) around the adult’s waist (‘tail’). Try for two lengths per adult and child pair. Week one and you’ll have done 100 metres between you already.
Week 2
Relay Challenge. Trunx never forgets but this one’s easy to remember! The youngest person picks the stroke (breaststroke, front crawl, backstroke, butterfly!!!!). You all then see if you can all do two lengths of that stroke. Feeling confident? 200 metres is your challenge this week.
Week 3
Swim with the Herd . Trunx loves to get in the water with the rest of the herd, why don’t you follow and swim in a line altogether? See if you can do 4 lengths. Add this together and you have completed 400 metres.
Week 4
Ball Race. Trunx has a new toy... a water polo ball. If you’ve got a lightweight ball take it to the pool and have a water polo race. See how many lengths you can swim changing how you hold onto the ball. Keep the ball out of the garden, you want it clean for next time!! Can you reach 500 meters as a family?
Week 5
Copy Trunx. Like all elephants Trunx is pretty good at copying things. Try and think of different ways in which you can mirror the way you swim one length. How about swimming a length turning from front to back, swim under the water, who can go the furthest, tow the person who is nearest in size to you. Your challenge is 600 metres. Remember there are four different swimming strokes to try!
Week 6
You’re Bigger Than Me! Trunx is pretty big but in the water even elephant calves can hold their own. See if your junior team members can beat an adult together. Each child should swim four lengths in one go (that’s 8 lengths/200 metres altogether ), while each adult should swim 8 lengths each (that’s 16 lengths and 400 metres altogether). See who wins and together you’ll have completed 800 metres.
Week 7
We’re All Ears. Trunx thinks it's about time you listened up! Talk as a family about your favourite challenges from the previous weeks. Agree together which ones you liked best and see whether you can put enough of them together to get to 900 metres, which is 36 lengths.
Week 8
Trunx Choice. Trunx can spend hours in the water just having fun. Make your own Trunx choice and get everyone to choose their own favourite stroke, the distance they want to swim, discuss who will do the most lengths or perhaps you can all swim the same amount?
Weeks 9
A Helping Trunk. Trunx thinks now is the time to see whether you can all swim 10 lengths each. Is someone in the team finding it hard, share out the lengths. Perhaps have a look at the clock and see how long it takes.
Week 10
Trumpet Call! Trunx loves to make noise when excited. See whether you can get to 1km, which is 40 lengths of the pool, and really give him something to talk about. Don’t forget to celebrate yourselves if you do it!

Trunx Olympic 1k Family Challenge

Number crunching

The Challenge

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