Lewis Burras hopes Commonwealth success will inspire youngsters to learn to swim

Commonwealth Games medallist Lewis Burras hopes the performances of Team England’s swimmers at Birmingham 2022 will inspire youngsters to learn how to swim.

Burras finished second in the Men’s 50m Freestyle at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre, while he also picked up two silver medals as part of the Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay squad and the Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay team during a successful Games for Team England.

He hopes that the buzz of the Games across Birmingham and the rest of the country will lead to youngsters taking their first steps towards a lifelong love of the water.

Burras said: “If you have that ability to be confident around water, to feel safe in water, you can take that with you for the rest of your life.

“If there are communities in the UK where the percentage of kids that know how to swim is low, Sandwell being one of them perhaps, and we can go in there and inspire just a few to turn up to learn to swim lessons, I think we’ve done our job.”

Burras also hopes young club swimmers will be motivated to emulate their performances in the pool

On the importance of Team England being an inspiration to them, Burras said: “I think it’s vital.

“It’s part of what makes us England, proud to represent England and knowing that this is part of the journey.

Pursue something that you love

“Whilst we are going through it now, there is that up-and-coming generation who are going to learn to take those steps.

“If I can retire just inspiring one person, then I’ve done a pretty good job.”

Burras praised the club environment for playing a key role in this development as an elite athlete – both in and out of the pool.

“I got into swimming around the age of nine with a club in Dubai called Hamilton Aquatics,” he said.
“From there, I spent the next nine years developing under one coach, Ash Morris.

“To be honest, I have to credit all of this to him because the lessons that he taught me in and out the pool, have helped shape me to be the person that stands in front of you today.

“The big three were consistency, discipline and gratitude.

“It’s an opportunity to try and pursue something that you love.

“Not many people get to say it but turning up every day to the pool, working hard and staying consistent, it’s helped me not only in the pool but in other areas of my life as well.”