Visits to swimming pools across the district may have sunk by more than 150,000 within two years, but Shipley Pool with its 5m diving board and serious sporting credentials is buoyed up by the legacy of the Olympics.

One of its proteges, 16-year-old Sam Thornton, of Baildon, is representing Team GB at the 6th Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney.

Shipley was Bradford district’s busiest pool last year with 231,695 visits – due largely to its straightforward approach to swimming with no inflatables, or water chutes, say those behind its success.

“I think the beauty of Shipley Pool is there is something for everybody, from Aquatots to 80-year-olds,” said Andrew Burns, business development manager for Bradford Council’s Sport and Leisure Services. “And at the centre of it is the competitive swimming with two clubs, City of Bradford and Bradford Swimming Club, plus the diving pool with its 5m board which is used by the Esprit Diving Squad.

“Serious swimmers come from Skipton and beyond to use the facilities. It’s Bradford’s flagship pool,” said Mr Burns.

Pool manager Simon Turner said: “We have a really robust programme which has enough variety, but isn’t over-complicated and is basically centred around straightforward swimming.”

That approach has seen its number of swimmers rise by six per cent in the last year.

* A triathlon training course is starting at Shipley Pool as interest in the sport swells following the success of the Brownlee brothers, who first developed their swimming skills there.

A waiting list now exists for triathlon sessions at Bingley Pool, where up to 20 people a week have been attending to take up the sport inspired by Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee and his bronze-medallist brother Jonny, who is the World Triathlete Champion for 2012.

The triathlon training course, run by Bradford Council, caters for both novice and experienced triathletes.

Councillor Andrew Thornton, executive member for environment and sport, said: “Triathlon is a growing sport and with the legacy of Olympic success more people want to get involved competitively."

The course at Shipley Pool starts on Thursday, January 31. For details, contact the pool on (01274) 437162.