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Olympic swimmer Scott Dickens' message to Whitehorse swimmers was simple.

"Setting your goals high and going after your dreams. That's my message,鈥� he said Saturday at the Canada Games Centre.

"Dream big and go after it. Just because you're from here, doesn't mean you can't hop in a plane and go somewhere and achieve anything you want.鈥�

The 28-year-old from Ancaster, Ont., was in the Yukon capital to inspire and teach members of the Whitehorse Glacier Bears swim team during a weekend time trial event.

"I want these kids in remote places to have the opportunity to meet an idol of theirs,鈥� Dickens told the Star. "I want them to know that just because they're from here, it doesn't mean they can't go places, and go to the Olympics.

"This is an experience they will never forget,鈥� he added. "If I was growing up and I had an opportunity to do a clinic on a weekend with an Olympian, and I knew who they were, and I knew their times, and I knew they just went to the Olympics, I would be there with eyes wide open. I'd be so excited. It would make me want to train harder.鈥�

Dickens finished 16th in the 100-metre breaststroke in London last summer, after finishing 19th in the same event at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

After competing alongside local swimmers in the time trial, Dickens spent some time telling swimmers his Olympic story, then signed autographs and had pictures taken with many of the young athletes.

"The most important thing in life and in sport is to have fun,鈥� said Dickens. "Because we can dwell on times, or not getting the grade we wanted, but it's learning from these mistakes that's going to make you the person you want to be in life.鈥�

Dickens has spent time with a variety of swim clubs in B.C. prior to his visit to the Yukon.

"It's to inspire our generation, our youth,鈥� he said of his tour. "That was the motto of the Olympics and I really took it to heart. I took that from the Olympics and said,

鈥楬ow can I do that? How can I inspire our swimmers and our young athletes to go after their goals and to dream big?'

"I'm trying to get out there and just pass this message along. Give anything I can to help the coaches and the swimmers develop the program. Not only do I come up here and inspire, I help them learn the proper techniques to help them swim better.鈥�

Dickens completed a similar tour to Whitehorse after his first Olympic appearance in 2004. Local swimmer Alexandra Gabor went on to become one of Dickens' Olympic teammates.

"I hope I had something to do with that, inspiring her to get to where she wanted to be,鈥� Dickens said.

While enjoying the current moment, Dickens said he believes his Olympic career to be over, as he will be 32 by the time the 2016 Olympics begin in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Glacier Bears' head coach Stephanie Dixon said a visit from someone of Dickens' calibre serves as a concrete example of what is possible through swimming.

"I always try and encourage the kids up here to think about university and something outside of Whitehorse,鈥� she said. "Your ability to set goals is only as good as what you're aware of. It's really important to be exposing them to this stuff.鈥�

Events such as a visit from an Olympic swimmer remind young athletes that "there are big things to achieve.鈥�

At the time trial, 12-year-old Adrian Robinson continued his torrid pace, breaking two club records in the 50-metre and 100-metre breaststroke. He beat the Canada Games qualifying time in the 50-metre, joining Cassis Lindsay, Dannica Nelson, Haley Braga and Josh Kelly as swimmers who have achieved that feat.

Eleven swimmers also took 10 seconds off their previous best times.

They are Shailyn Moore, Liam Diamond, Maddison Ramsay, Reece Johnson, Kate Muller, Camilla Hallock, Christopher Blakesley, Amelia Barrault, Rebecca Koser, Cooper Muir, and Naomi Dedon.