Olympic swimming champion preaches passion for water safety

Three-time United States Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer Rowdy Gaines recently spoke at the re-opening of the Cape Aquatic Center in Cape Girardeau. He is part of the Step Into Swim organization, which raises funding for aquatic safety throughout America.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

It might be a stretch that a young person learning the first lessons of aquatic safety could develop into a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, but that journey must start somewhere, and no one comprehends that more so than Rowdy Gaines.

With public and private aquatic facilities all over the country offering swim lessons, to people of all ages over the summer months, now is a good time to beat the drum on the message of aquatic safety.

The former United States Olympic swimming great recently visited Cape Girardeau for the re-opening of the Cape Aquatic Center, and while here, he spoke of the importance of people of all ages learning to be comfortable in the water.

“Drowning is the number one cause of death in children one to four, and a lot of people don’t know that. From the five to 14 age group, it’s number two.”

Gaines, who said swim lessons were “the method to my madness,” which has led to a lifetime involvement in aquatics, has involved himself in the Step Into Swim organization, which provides opportunities in underserved communities to gain exposure to swim lessons.

“Our goal is to raise money through the (aquatic) industry,” Gaines explained, “and take that money and literally give it out to swim lesson providers around the country to teach children how to swim.”

A group of young swimmers pose for a photo at the YMCA of Southeast Missouri following their participation in Swim Club at the Sikeston facility. (photo courtesy of Shae Clinton)

Gaines receives an alert on his phone each time a child in this country drowns, which occurs 4,000 times annually to people of all ages in America. He said the organization is geared toward “learn to swim” programs, but if a child evolves into a fantastic swimmer, that is all the better.

“The bottom line is,” Gaines said, “we are in the business of saving lives.”

So is the YMCA of Southeast Missouri in Sikeston.

The facility offers swim lessons throughout the year, according to Aquatic Director Shae Clinton, and people of all ages.

“I don’t think (swim lessons) are taught that regularly, nowadays,” Clinton said. “With it being such a big safety (issue), I feel like back in the day, it was a lot more important to teach kids how to swim than it is now, for some reason.”

Clinton, who grew up swimming both recreationally, and later competitively, in the indoor, 6-lane, 25-yard aquatic facility that she now manages, said the lessons that she and her staff teach go as basic as educating people how to exit the pool safely, as well as the nuances of swimming the various strokes.

Clinton said “(private) memberships can be very expensive,” so to enable the community surrounding Sikeston the opportunity to acclimate themselves into an aquatic environment, the YMCA of Southeast Missouri works with people who are interested in signing up for the lessons.

“We did get really lucky in getting this YMCA in Sikeston,” Clinton said, “and having a nonprofit organization along with offering memberships on an income-based level.

“That way families are able to be members here.”

In Cape Girardeau, it remains to be seen if the United States Swimming club team, River City Aquatics, produces an Olympic Gold Medalist, but there has been no shortage of high-level high school and collegiate swimmers come through the program. However, even beginner swimmers can benefit from an association with the team, according to Head Coach Bobby Brewer.

“Depending on what your child’s level (of swimming) is,” Brewer said, “we have all different levels, from our Swim Academy to our Swim Team.”

Parents can register their children (ages four years and up) for a free evaluation. The Swim Academy offers lessons throughout the school year, which are taught by in-water instructors in a small group setting.

For more information on any of the aforementioned organizations, a simple Google search on the Web can find detailed home pages, as well as on Facebook by searching the names of the organizations.