Swim queen happy to dip out
Four-times Olympian Leisel Jones enjoys teaching kids to swim, but don't ask her to get back in the pool.
The Beijing 100m breaststroke gold medallist said she hadn't even considered dipping her toe in the water since her retirement almost a year ago.
"I don't get in the water at all," Jones said. "I don't want to go anywhere near it.
"I don't mind going to the beach and having a muck around in the waves but that's about it.
"Teaching other kids is fine though."
Jones will rub shoulders with aspiring swimmers in Geraldton today as part of the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series community program.
It is Jones' third visit to regional WA this year to work with enthusiastic youngsters as she adjusts to life after swimming.
The 28-year-old is studying psychology in Brisbane, hoping to become a sports psychologist.
She has spoken out about the enormous pressure she put on herself during more than 16 years at the elite level but said the children she was dealing with were too young to be affected by those issues.
"They are still definitely in the enjoyment stage of starting out to swim and swimming with their friends and it is a social thing, which I loved as well as a youngster," she said.
"These kids do it for the pure enjoyment of it, which is nice."
She believes the sport has a bright future, despite bad publicity in recent times.
Jones said she loved the concept of the Aquatic Super Series, which will be held for the second year at Challenge Stadium from January 31 to February 2.
During the series, the Australian swim team will take on the Chinese and the South Africans.
There will also be an international water polo competition and an open water challenge.
