Less than seven minutes later \u2013 6mins 59.43secs to be precise \u2013 and the quartet of Guy, Tom Dean<\/strong>, Matt Richards<\/strong> and Duncan<\/strong> Scott<\/strong> retained their title with an historic victory at La Defense Arena.<\/p>\n Victory was not only about the four but also Kieran Bird<\/strong> (1:47.68) and Jack McMillan<\/strong> (1:45.68) who \u2013 along with Guy and Dean – steered the team to the top time of 7:05.11 in the prelims.<\/p>\n The pair enabled Scott \u2013 whose Paris schedule encompassed six races in the 200 free and 200IM and four relays \u2013 and Richards \u2013 with two individual events and three relays \u2013 to sit out the heats and as a result, Bird and McMillan secured gold medals as prelim swimmers.<\/p>\n 4×2 prelims, Paris 2024: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala \/ Deepbluemedia<\/p><\/div>\n Bird told Swimming World: \u201cFor me to come in and help them rest up a bit for the final, it\u2019s a privilege to me, it\u2019s an honour, they make us feel really welcome. And Aquatics GB do a really good job of integrating the guys who aren\u2019t potentially in the final squad into the team and making us feel like we are big members of the team.<\/p>\n \u201cMe and Jack I think felt very happy that our role was pushed so heavily by the guys in the team and also in the senior leadership team.\u201d<\/p>\n Bird was speaking at the launch of Swim England\u2019s #LoveSwimming campaign which is highlighting the wider benefits of swimming lessons for children in terms of happiness, confidence and social skills.<\/p>\n Swim England\u2019s research has shown that over two thirds of parents (68%) agree that swimming lessons have helped their child to make new friends.<\/p>\n Two-time Olympian Bird was introduced to the water by his parents at a young age at the local leisure centre in Bicester, a market town in Oxfordshire, south-east England. Confident in the pool, Bird joined the local club Bicester Blue Fins.<\/p>\n He looked up to Craig Gibbons<\/strong>, who competed for Great Britain in the men\u2019s 4×100 free at London 2012.<\/p>\n \u201cHe used to swim in my county, my area,\u201d said Bird. \u201cI remember seeing him when I was 10, 11, 12 \u2013 I thought he was some superhero. That inspired me to want to be that.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, if I can do that for other kids, I think that is me giving back to the community and that\u2019s me making the world a bit of a better place.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThis is something I feel quite passionately about: it is being a role model and making kids think they can do anything they want. Whether it\u2019s following myself and doing it in the pool or doing it in other aspects of life.\u201d<\/p>\n Since taking those first steps at the local leisure centre, Bird has competed on the European and global stage.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/20240730_GSca_GS40007-700x500.jpg\")
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