An Olympian and British record holder visited Newmarket Swimming Club earlier this month to coach a special session for its swimmers.

East Anglian Daily Times: Olympic swimmer Gemma Lowe as guest coach at Newmarket and District Swimming Club for a session.Olympic swimmer Gemma Lowe as guest coach at Newmarket and District Swimming Club for a session.

Jemma Lowe, whose specialist stroke is butterfly, took part in a question and answer session with squad members before passing on some technical advice in the pool.

Lowe is the record holder for 100 metre butterfly both short and long course, and 200m butterfly short course. She appeared at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games and has represented Wales in the Commonwealth Games.

Newmarket’s entries secretary Nigel Fussey organised the event and said Lowe was a credit to her sport.

“Throughout she was an absolute pleasure to work with,” he said. “This was the same on the night, nothing too much trouble and spending equal time with all squads.

“Even at the end of the session, when having to make the journey back to Bath for 6am training Jemma still made time to sign autographs on kit bags, shirts and water bottles.”

Head coach Annette Skeet said she hoped all her swimmers were able to take something away from the session.

“I hope they remember some of the things that Jemma said, like mornings are all part of a swimmers life and swimming twice in one day is good preparation for competing.”

The club’s chairman, Chris Bellwood added: “I would like to thank Nigel for his efforts in booking Jemma, I think it’s an indication of the quality and dedication of people that we have right through our club and the strides that we are now making.”