Little Daisy just kept on swimming a mile

Mar 26 2008 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

LITTLE Daisy Sanderson is one of the youngest ever people to swim a mile.

The five-year-old completed 64 lengths of Huddersfield’s Stadium Pool– to the amazement of her family and swimming coach.

The Fenay Bridge youngster was only meant to swim 32 lengths. But she kept on going and going until dad Darren decided to pull her out of the pool.

Although her swim wasn’t recorded the Guinness World Book of Records features only one person younger than Daisy to manage the distance.

Proud mum Alison Sanderson said: “We are all amazed by how far she swam.

“She swam 16 lengths when she was four, so this time she wanted to double it and do 32 lengths.

“But she just carried on and on and ended up doing 64 lengths, which is one mile.

“I think that after 64 lengths she still wanted to carry on. Her dad and swimming coach actually had to pull her out before she got too tired.”

Daisy, a pupil at Rowley Lane, Junior, Infant and Nursery School at Lepton, started swimming lessons at the Stadium Pool with coach Josephine Ripley when she was just three.

She has already passed some ‘metre badges’ and is getting ready for her bronze medal.

Swimming is in her genes, with her dad a former water polo player and her two sisters, Beth, 12, and Laura, 18, both former swimmers for Kirklees.

Mrs Sanderson added: “From the moment we put Daisy in the water she just loved it.

“She just swims and swims and doesn’t stop. She has always been very confident in the water.

“Even though we couldn’t believe she swam a mile it is just like Daisy to carry on and do her best.

“She was so pleased with herself, but I don’t think she realises how special she is for swimming that far.

“She got to take her certificate into school assembly, which she was really proud of.

“And who knows, maybe she will be a future Olympic swimmer.”