OLYMPIC star Karen Pickering is hoping to make a splash with her new swim club.

The Commonwealth gold medallist was in Swindon yesterday to launch Karen Pickering SWIM at the Holiday Inn's Spirit Club in Marlborough Road.

The club will offer lessons to all ages, including sessions for pregnant women.

There will also be SWIM-slim, a 10-week course designed by Karen to swim yourself into shape.

Although Karen will not actually be teaching the classes, she maintains that this is very much her company.

She said: "I have picked all the teachers myself, as I had a very clear idea of what I wanted.

"I felt it was important to get people who can put their ideas across well and who recognise that each person is different and requires a different way of teaching.

"It's also vital to have teachers who understand that swimming should be fun.

"While it's a great way to exercise we also have to make sure that children enjoy it enough to keep coming back to swimming all their life."

On the chances of finding Olympic swimming stars of the future, Karen was optimistic.

"Why not? There's already been one from Swindon, in Jaime King, so there's absolutely no reason why there couldn't be another," she said.

"This might not be an Olympic size pool, but it's a perfect place to start."

Karen competed at four consecutive Olympic Games, and was four-time world champion and a two-time world record holder.

In 1994 she was awarded an MBE for services to swimming.

Spirit Club manager Simon Cowdery said Karen was a great role model for children wanting to take up swimming.

He said: "It's great to have her publicising the sport, which is one of the best and most enjoyable ways to exercise. You hear some scary things about obesity and people not exercising so to teach children could set them up for life."

Lessons will start at the Spirit Club on Thursday, March 6.

For more information go to www.karenpickeringswim.co.uk or call 01273 245652.