Olympic champion Duncan Goodhew was at Medway Park in Gillingham this morning to launch the second Big Splash.

The gold medal winning swimmer posed for photos and signed autographs with keen young swimmers before teaching them some water skills.

Duncan said: "Swimming is accepted as the very best form of exercise. It's incredible exercise, fun and brilliant for your health."

He said: "It's exciting to see such commitment in the Medway area to get everybody engaged with swimming. Swimming is not just good for your health, but is also a life skill which could stop you from drowning, and some careers require you to be able to swim.

"It is gender neutral and appeals to boys and girls, and men and women and it's the one sport you can do for the whole of your life.

"If you go to your local pool, you will see people who are retired who keep their good health because they can swim."

The Big Splash was held for the first time in January this year, when around 2,000 took part.

The second event will take place at all of the Towns’ swimming pools over the weekend of January 17 and 18 2015. Registration opens on October 18.

It’s a free family weekend of fun in the water with lots of activities to get involved in. They will include free family pool parties, water-based activity sessions and the Big Swim Challenge.

The challenge, sponsored by Southern Water, encourages the people to come together and see how far Medway can swim collectively in one day. Participants can choose to swim a range of distances from one length to one mile – 16 lengths, 32 lengths, 48 lengths or 64 lengths.

It is free to enter and every participant will receive a free Big Splash T-shirt, medal and certificate.

Event sponsors Southern Water said: “We are proud to support the Medway Big Splash 2015 and with the support of our Learn to Swim ambassador, Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew. We continue to work to ensure the safety of children in and around water.”

Cllr Howard Doe, in charge of community services, said: “We would like as many people as possible to sign up and see how see how far Medway can swim in one day. The Big Splash is a free event for all the family and encourages people of all ages to keep active and enjoying swimming."

For more information contact medwaysport@medway.gov.uk or visit www.medway.gov.uk/bigsplash.