Free Event on May 10 Featured US Olympic Swim Champions Teaching Water Safety to Families
By Judith Salkin
With accidental drowning listed as one of the top causes of childhood deaths, several Coachella Valley non-profits banded together including the Family YMCA of the Desert and Swim to Win Foundation, to offer free swim lessons to families and children on Saturday, May 10 at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center (PDAC), which is owned by the City of Palm Desert.
In its second year, the free event hosted more than 1,000 kids for swim lessons and safety tips from Olympic champions and the Center’s lifeguards. The YMCA staff and volunteers helped get everyone signed up and moving through the stations, and assisting throughout the day with cold bottled water and snacks. “It was great seeing all the kids and parents coming out to learn about pool safety and swimming,” stated Karen Creasy, Aquatic Manager for PDAC. “All of our pools were in use, and everyone had a great time getting to know the Olympic swimmers and enjoying the picture-perfect day.”
Steve Little, the CEO of the Swim to Win Foundation is passionate about the mission of this event. “I don’t ever want to hear of another child dying because they don’t know how to swim,” he said, “And this is what I can do to stop that from happening.”
Little, a former competitive swimmer, worked through his foundation, Swim to Win, to bring in Olympic swimmers to encourage and inspire the participants. US Olympic Swimmers who attended included Rowdy Gaines (1984), Janet Evans (1988 and 1992), Kaitlin Sandeno (2004) Aaron Peirsol (2000, 2004, 2008), Jason Lezak (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012), Chloe Sutton (2008, 2012) Rada Owen (2000) and Rancho Mirage native Lynette Lim, who was on the Singapore Olympic team in 2012.
“When you see the face of kid who is scared of the water, and then watch as they gain confidence and begin to have fun, it’s just so rewarding,” said Olympian Kaitlin Sandeno. “And swimming is such a great sport because once you can swim competently, you can do it your entire life both for fun and exercise,” she concluded.
Rowdy Gaines noted, “Getting kids into the pool early is the best tip I can give any parent,” he said. “Although I didn’t start swimming competitively until I was 17, my mom had me in the pool at nine months. I grew up in the water.”
Tips from Rowdy Gaines and his fellow Olympians include:
1. Introduce children to pool safety as soon as they can walk.
2. Start with baby classes. “If you child can walk, they can learn to swim,” Gaines said.
3. For older children, try group swim lessons.
4. Never leave children alone in or near the pool.
Overall, Just Add Swim was a successful and fun day both in and out of the pool. The Olympians have pledged to return next year, and are all committed to continuing the mission of the Swim to Win Foundation; teaching every child how to swim and be safe in a pool. For more information about the Swim to Win Foundation, visit www.SwimtoWin.org or call Steve Little at 760-636-6789.
Photo Credit: Kim Kirker for Swim to Win Foundation
