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Four-year-old's swim record bid Oliver, four, in record swim bid
(about 10 hours later)
A four-year-old boy is hoping to enter the record books as the youngest person to swim a mile. A boy aged four from Cwmbran, Torfaen appears to have set a new world record as the youngest person to swim a mile.
Oliver Vowles, from Cwmbran, Torfaen, has already swum a mile during practice but hopes his attempt on Saturday will make him a world record breaker. Oliver Vowles had already swum the distance in practice, but on Saturday he repeated the performance in front of Guinness World record assessors.
Oliver swam 65 lengths of a 25 metre pool to beat the record currently held by a girl of five. His time was one hour, three minutes and 23 seconds.
He must now wait for Guinness World Records officials to confirm his feat.
He has been swimming since he was 16 months old and has been described by his swimming teacher as "having breast stroke legs like a frog".He has been swimming since he was 16 months old and has been described by his swimming teacher as "having breast stroke legs like a frog".
To complete a mile, Oliver will have to swim 64 lengths of a 25m pool.
His mother, Sandra Wilkins, said Oliver was "a natural" in the water.His mother, Sandra Wilkins, said Oliver was "a natural" in the water.
It's second nature to him and he's got great rhythm Sandra Wilkins, Oliver's mother
After he finished his mammoth swim, she said: "I was just so apprehensive. We were trying to do this quietly but there has been so much media interest."
"I started taking him swimming when he was 16 months old and then when he was two-and-a-half he was spotted by a swimming instructor who offered to teach him," she explained."I started taking him swimming when he was 16 months old and then when he was two-and-a-half he was spotted by a swimming instructor who offered to teach him," she explained.
Oliver and his three-year-old sister Madeline have both been going to classes twice a week since.Oliver and his three-year-old sister Madeline have both been going to classes twice a week since.
It's second nature to him and he's got great rhythm Sandra Wilkins, Oliver's mother
His mother said the idea of him swimming a mile came about after his instructor Gaynor Butler spotted a newspaper article about a five-year-old girl who had swum a mile.His mother said the idea of him swimming a mile came about after his instructor Gaynor Butler spotted a newspaper article about a five-year-old girl who had swum a mile.
"She said she thought Oliver could do that and he began swimming more and more lengths until he got to 64 and he did that in one hour five minutes and 59 seconds," said Mrs Wilkins."She said she thought Oliver could do that and he began swimming more and more lengths until he got to 64 and he did that in one hour five minutes and 59 seconds," said Mrs Wilkins.
Under pressureUnder pressure
"It's second nature to him and he's got great rhythm."It's second nature to him and he's got great rhythm.
"I was worried he was going to be under a lot of pressure to do it and that's why we have had a couple of practice goes."I was worried he was going to be under a lot of pressure to do it and that's why we have had a couple of practice goes.
"We don't think it is fair to put him under pressure, so if on Saturday he does it then that's great, if he doesn't, then that's fine too." His swimming instructor has informed Guinness World Record officials of their record attempt.
His swimming instructor has informed Guinness World Record officials of their record attempt and hopes they will be there to witness the event on Saturday.
"I've never come across a child with breast stroke legs that are exactly like a frog's legs," she laughed."I've never come across a child with breast stroke legs that are exactly like a frog's legs," she laughed.
According to Guinness World Records, no record exists for the youngest person to swim a mile. Oliver, who turns five next week, was relaxing after his swim at a party with his friends.