Council staff member to be a lifeguard at the Olympics

Jono Richardson, who works at Shropshire Council’s Oswestry Leisure Centre, will get his moment to shine as a lifeguard for the London 2012 Olympic Games. 

Jono, aged 19 from Maesbury near Oswestry, recently completed his three days training at the London 2012 Aquatics Centre, and has also spent a day at the centre getting to know the rest of the team and having a look around the Olympic Stadium before the games start. 

After a tough selection process, he is now looking forward to travelling down to the capital to begin his shifts from 18 July through to 8 August 2012, where he’ll be rubbing shoulders with the stars of the pool including Rebecca Adlington, Michael Phelps and Tom Daley. 

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for active and healthy lifestyles, said:

“Being selected to lifeguard at the Olympic Games is a real honour and Jono should be very proud of himself.  It’s great that the Games are bringing health and fitness to the forefront, and I’m pleased that Jono will be a key part of this momentous event.” 

Jono added:

“It has been awesome being selected to be a lifeguard and completing the three days training at the Aquatics Centre.  I am really looking forward to being at the Olympics.  I have been a competitive swimmer with Oswestry Otters and Team Captain of Chirk Dragons, where I became involved with the Swim Wales Millennium Young Volunteers Programme, which was my opportunity to get involved with the Olympics as a volunteer. To be part of the Olympics is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I could not miss.”

He will be joining approximately 180 other volunteer lifeguards for the Games.