Four-time Olympic gold medalist Janet Evans, her eight-month-old baby, Sydney, City Councilman Bernard Parks and City Councilwoman Jan Perry, and dozens of eager children kicked off LA84 Foundation’s 22nd annual learn-to-swim program today at LA84 Foundation/John C. Argue Swim Stadium in Exposition Park.
The program, aimed at making swimming lessons available to as many kids as possible in the region, will take place at 102 pools throughout Southern California. Approximately 12,000 youngsters are expected to participate, according to LA84 Foundation President Anita L. DeFrantz.
Evans’ daughter, Sydney, who has been swimming since she was five-months-old, was the youngest swimmer on hand for the program’s launch. She showed off her world-class swimming genes, much to the delight of the other children. Sydney may well be a contender in the 2024 Olympic Games, DeFrantz noted.
“You’re never too young or too old to learn to swim,” said Evans, an LA84 Foundation board member. “The learn-to-swim program has helped more than 200,000 children learn to swim through the years. This program has saved countless lives by teaching basic water safety. It has inspired students to become swim instructors and lifeguards, and they are now helping future generations enjoy swimming more safely. I hope one or two future Olympians will get their first swimming experience this summer.”
Joi Madison, who was on hand for the kickoff, learned to swim in the program and is a lifeguard this summer at the swim stadium where she first jumped into the pool.
The program is being offered at swimming pools operated by the recreation departments of the cities of Burbank, Carson, Los Angeles, Glendale, Long Beach, Monterey Park, South Gate, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Palmdale, Ventura and LA County.
“The learn-to-swim program is a great addition to recreation centers throughout the City,” Councilman Parks said. “It will open doors to thousands of children in the community while teaching them important life-saving skills. With the implementation of this much-needed program, young kids in the Eighth District will finally have more access to life-building activities such as diving, water polo and synchronized swimming.”
Although it’s been widely reported that black children ages 5 to 19 are 2.3 times more likely to drown than white children in the same age group, the numbers are even higher among Hispanic males. A recent study by the American Journal of Public Health found Hispanic males ages 15 to 24 years are 2 to 5 times more likely to drown than white males of the same age.
“Even one preventable death from drowning is too many,” Councilwoman Perry said. “There is no reason for any child to drown when this can be prevented through swimming lessons that are readily available through the LA84 Foundation at so many neighborhood public pools.”
At many of these facilities, youngsters also have the opportunity to participate in diving, water polo and synchronized swimming programs. For a schedule of classes and programs, parents should contact their neighborhood pool.
“Drowning remains the second-leading cause of accidental death among children,” said DeFrantz, a two-time Olympian in rowing. “The LA84 Foundation is committed to giving children the opportunity to take advantage of outstanding facilities in Southern California in a fun and safe way.”
This is the 22nd year that the LA84 Foundation has sponsored the learn-to-swim program, which will culminate with youngsters taking part in an age-specific swimming competition at the LA84 Foundation’s Summer Swim Festival on August 25 at the swim stadium.
About LA84 Foundation: The LA84 Foundation was established to manage Southern California’s share of the surplus from the highly successful 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The Foundation received $93 million at its inception and, since then, has invested $164 million in serving more than two million youth in the eight Southern California counties of Los Angeles, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura. Its headquarters is located in the historic Britt House near downtown Los Angeles where it houses the world’s premier sports library and meeting facilities. The Foundation convenes numerous forums for the exploration of the most pressing issues in sport. For additional information, please visit www.LA84Foundation.org.