USA Swimming and AT&T are sponsoring a swim clinic on Saturday at KCAC. The clinic is designed to educate parents, children and communities about the importance of learning to swim and being safe around the water. USA Swimming said in a news release that they will provide bathing suits, kickboards, goggles and towels for the swimmers.
The release also said about 10 people drown every day in the U.S. while more than one in five drowning victims are children younger than 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control. USA Swimming also stated that 75 percent African-American and 60 percent of Hispanic/Latino children cannot swim. That’s according to a national research study by the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis.
Olympian Maritza Correia McClendon will lead an out-of-water safety talk for a group of 50 children. McClendon is the first African-American woman to make the U.S. National team and win an Olympic medal, earning silver in the women’s 4×100-meter relay in 2004. Olympian Anthony Ervin will be leading the in-water activities. Also, local instructors will participate in in-water activities.
