Published: January 23, 2011
Olympic swimmer and Strictly Come Dancing star visits Burnham

Olympic swimmer and TV celebrity Mark Foster visited Burnham-On-Sea on Sunday (January 23rd) to hold a special coaching session at the town's swimming club.

Mark, who competed for Great Britain at the 2008 Olympic Games and appeared as a contestant on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing, visited Burnham Swim and Sports Academy in Berrow Road after Burnham Swimming Club won a nationwide competition.

The club's Sarah Pusill told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "We entered a contest through the Amateur Swimming Association to collect as many swimming receipts as possible over a two month period. We were delighted to gather 5,000 in total and win a special visit by Mark."

"It was great to have him visit us and do a coaching session with the children. They all loved it."

Mark competed in the sixth series of BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing and managed to stay in the contest until week six. He also appeared on The Weakest Link in 2008, when he won £15,900 for charity and also starred in Who Wants to be a Millionaire? in 2009 when he won £10,000 for charity. He has also previously appeared on Superstars on Channel Five and BBC2's Through the Keyhole.

Mark told Burnham-On-Sea.com at Sunday's event: "This is my first visit to Burnham - it's great to see the swimming club here doing so well. I'm delighted to be involved in events like this that encourage and inspire young people to swim."

Mark Foster is pictured top with Burnham Swimming Club's members and the Amateur Swimming Association's Amanda Smerczak. Above, he's shown being welcomed to the Academy by owner Sara Cox-Conklin