‘Gr8 Comeback’: Olympic gold medalist helps swim schools
GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) — After a long year filled with making adjustments for the coronavirus pandemic, the Goldfish Swim School in Greenwood is back in the swing of things and welcoming swimmers of all ages.
“The community response has been amazing, just getting people in our facility, taking the swim lessons (and) getting safer in water,” said Andrew Joseph, Goldfish Swim regional manager. “Water is a great source of joy. We want to make sure that everybody has the opportunity and the ability to enjoy it at its fullest level.”
He talks about what it means to have the South Indianapolis and Johnson County community support for Goldfish Swim School’s newest, smallest location and keep it going through the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s humbling. We know how much we mean to you guys. We just don’t think you guys understand how much you mean to us so we really appreciate it.”
During May, the swim school wants to assure the fun is still shedding light on a serious topic: teaching more people how to swim. “Formal swim lessons have shown to reduce the risk of drowning by up to 80%,” Joseph said.
This year, Goldfish Swim introduced the Safer Swimmer Pledge. It’s a message they plan to send loud and clear across the country with the help of Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones.
“It doesn’t matter what age you are, you need to learn how to swim,” Jones said. “It is a life skill.”
Jones, who technically drowned when he was 5 years old, is now teaching his young son how to swim and hoping families across the country will do the same with their kids.
Meanwhile, at Greenwood’s Goldfish Swim School, they’ve also incorporated free interactive safety lessons. Cole Turczyn, the general manager, is in charge of the in-person swimming experience.
“We are trying to make it fun, energetic, make sure these kids are really learning something, taking it home and taking it to wherever they go,” Turczyn said. “Teaching a life lesson that they’re going to use for the rest of their life.”
The school also has locations in Fishers and Carmel.