Seven-year-old Rossendale swimmer gets supportive Tweet from Rebecca Adlington (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Seven-year-old Rossendale swimmer gets supportive Tweet from Rebecca Adlington

5:38pm Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in Sport By Steve Tinniswood, Sports reporter

A GOOD luck wish from Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington spurred a seven-year-old to success in her first swimming gala.

Mia Smith only joined Ramsbottom Rascals Amateur Swimming Club in September after she watched the Olympics and decided she wanted to take up competitive swimming.

Her mum Gill Smith is Deputy Headteacher at Haslingden High School and used her daughter’s desire to take up sport to illustrate an assembly on the Olympic legacy.

“Had it not been for the Olympics then Mia would never have decided to trial for the swimming club,” said Gill.

“They asked if she wanted to go in for a swimming gala and she was entered in the 25m back stroke, freestyle and breast stroke.

“On the day of the gala my husband Mark decided to send a tweet to Rebecca Adlington asking her to wish our daughter well in her first gala. After half an hour his phone beeped and he said, ’That will be Rebecca responding.’ And imagine our surprise when it was.”

Rebecca tweeted back: “Good luck Mia, have a good one.”

At the gala, Mia came away with two silvers and a gold medal and Gill puts it down to the tweet from Rebecca encouraging her to try her hardest.

Gill added: “Mia has only had technique swimming lessons before and was never competitive until the Olympics. I was chuffed with how well she did and I am very proud of her.

“Rebecca Adlington is a true example of the Olympic legacy – inspiring others to go for it and pursue their dreams.”