Rocky Mount, Va. (May 24, 2022) – Known as “America’s Swim Instructor,” more than a million children and teens learn to swim every year at the Y. Once completing swim lessons, many kids enjoy the water recreationally for the rest of their lives. For those who want to take their swimming to an even higher level, the Franklin County Family YMCA offers competitive swimming with the Riptide swim team.
Last weekend, 11 swimmers traveled to Greensboro to represent the FCFY Riptide swim team at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in the YBAC Spring Invitational. Swimmers were able to compete in a Long Course (50 meter) pool, most of them for the first time. In the past Riptide swimmers have only been able to compete in Short Course (25 yard) pools. The opportunity to go and compete at the same venue and in the same pool that, a month prior at the Phillips 66 International Team Trials, one world record and two American records were broken, was something that not only motivated the Riptide swimmers, but is an experience that will be cherished for a long time.
“The swimmers performed well and set baseline times to work towards improving over the summer as they continue their summer LC season. The Riptide swim team is the natural progression from Safety Around Water and Y Swim Lessons, encouraging children and teens to continue their love of swimming while providing an ideal environment for cognitive, physical and social-emotional development,” said Kameron Kitts, YMCA Aquatics Director. “Through our competitive aquatics program, participants experience achievement, feel a sense of belonging and build supportive relationships.”
Nationally, the Y is a leader in competitive swimming and has been for more than 100 years when the first national YMCA swimming records were filed in 1907. Today, over 60,000 athletes, 2,100 registered coaches and 5,100 trained officials are part of competitive swimming and diving at the Y. Additionally, 1,200 Ys have competitive aquatics programs and more than 250 YMCAs have a Masters Swim Program.
To get involved in the Riptide swim team, contact (540)489-9622 or info@franklincountyymca.org.
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