Marshall happy to be role model

MELANIE MARSHALL, world-class and Olympic swimmer, is in Guernsey this weekend. The four-times silver and twice bronze medallist at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne is the special guest at the Guernsey Swimming Club's annual presentation evening.

The Loughborough Univer-sity student will also conduct a training session for members of the club.

Marshall, 25, is an outstanding role model for many young swimmers and having her there to present some awards will undoubtedly create a great atmosphere during the evening.

'It's great to be having a good influence on the careers of young swimmers,' she said.

Her first major success was winning four golds at the European Youth Olympics in Bath in 1995.

Since then she appears not to have stopped winning and her achievements have been immense: currently she is the holder of one European record, eight British records and one English.

She says her ultimate goal remains to stand on the Olympic medal podium.

After finishing last year ranked eighth in the world, it seems her ambition is a realistic one.

The Beijing Olympics are looming and there is also the juicy prospect of perhaps a place in London 2012.

Her advice to any young swimmers is to be happy, swim well and appreciate the gift and the talent you've been given. 'Don't waste it.'

It seems to have worked for her.