Olympians train with the locals

(00:51) Rough Cut

Gold medallist American Ben Wildman-Tobriner and five times gold American medallist Gary Hall-Junior take to the water with their young fans to inspire a new generation of swimmers.

Young swimmers in China got to splash around with Olympic idols as the sport enjoys a new-found glamour after Michael Phelps' record-breaking Olympics wins.

Phelps' incredible eight golds which beat Mark Spitz's record at one single Games has put swimming in the spotlight and given young swimmers a new burst of enthusiasm for the sport.

Phelps has said he plans to do for swimming what fellow American Michael Jordan did for basketball and if the celebrity status treatment he is receiving in Beijing is anything to go by a new generation of swimmers has been well a truly inspired.

SOUNDBITES:

Ben Wildman-Tobriner, American gold medallist

Gary Hall-Junior, retired American gold medal winner