Champion Invictus Games swimmer and ‘prince of the pool’ Mike Goody has joined forces with STA to become the educational charity’s official open water swimming and water safety ambassador.

The former RAF regiment gunner won four gold medals at both the 2014 and 2016 Invictus Games – the international multi-sport event for sick and injured armed service personnel and veterans that was created by Prince Harry.

And now Mike, who is currently in training to become a professional para-triathlete, wants to share his passion of swimming and raise awareness of the importance of learning to swim as a key life skill with STA.

He said:

I’m honoured to have been asked to be an STA ambassador and will use this unique opportunity to help educate and promote the importance of water safety education. With nearly 400 drownings every year and drowning being the third highest cause of accidental death of children in the UK, it’s vital that people understand how to be safe in and around water.

Over the past few years since rekindling my love of swimming – particularly open water swimming – I’m genuinely surprised by how many people, and not just kids, I’ve come across that cannot swim. I loved swimming as a child and competing for my local club – I’d like everyone, young and old, to be given the opportunity to learn, for safety and fun.

The STA does incredible work to promote swimming and water safety, not just in the UK but across the globe, and I’m very excited to work with the team.

The 31-year-old, who was nicknamed ‘prince of the pool’ following his gold medal haul at the games in 2014, had his leg amputated below the knee in 2011, three years after he was injured in Afghanistan. While out on patrol, an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded leaving him trapped for 3 hours under his 4.5 tonne armoured car.

Welcoming Mike to the ambassador role, STA CEO Dave Candler said: Mike is an inspiration to us all and he has shown tremendous courage during his rehabilitation following such a devastating injury.

His success at the Invictus Games demonstrates huge fortitude and shows what a great sporting talent he is. We’re really looking forward to working with Mike because he will be a superb spokesman for us in our efforts to champion the importance of water safety education.