Make-A-Splash Tour Kicks Off In Phoenix

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Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

Make-A-Splash, presented by Phillips 66, kicked off in Phoenix last Friday with the support of Pitchfork Aquatics by hosting a multitude of events. Children from around the Phoenix area had the chance to visit ASU’s campus and the Mona Plummer facilities to begin their summer of swim lessons with the instructive help of Olympian Missy Franklin. While there Franklin was able to get in and give some individualized attention to the swimmers and instructors.

These children will continue to meet with their instructors at other ASU locations every Friday throughout the summer.

Along with the first swim lesson, the USA Swimming Foundation held a VIP Luncheon hosted by USA Swimming Foundation trustees Bart and Linda Wear at the Arizona County Club in Phoenix. During the gathering, Rowdy Gaines moderated a panel of elite swimmers and coaches including Michael Phelps, Chase Kalisz, Allison Schmitt, Coach Bob Bowman, and Franklin.

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Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

A fun and lively bunch, the session was full of laughs and smiles as the group discussed their own introductions to swimming and water safety, reflected on the 2012 London Olympics, and hinted towards what is to come as we speed towards Rio and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

Phelps, who has consistently been known for his passion regarding water safety, spoke about his start in swimming and the ever-growing importance of water safety,

The reason why I started swimming was my mom put me in water safety, my sisters as well and we fell in love with the sport….there are way too many kids, especially, that are drowning. My foundation and USA Swimming’s foundation we’re trying to get the same message across…I’ve been able to work with boys and girls clubs and being able to hear the stories of children overcoming their fears of being in the water…the little steps like that that help them become water safe. Being able to show them that they can overcome any thing that is put in their way.

Now a resident of Arizona, one of the states with the highest percentage of child drowning rates, Phelps noted that he and fiance, Nicole Johnson, have partnered with Pitchfork Aquatics to work to create several new swim schools in the area.

When asked about how they felt about being out here and training in Arizona, Schmitt commented, saying happily,

I love it out here. Like he [Michael Phelps] said the sun makes everything happier…you look up and you know you’re getting a sun tan out of it! It’s great being out here and the atmosphere in our training environment is great!

Franklin, who trains in Colorado, was also on hand and had fun reminiscing about the 2012 Olympics where she and Schmitt swam on all three relays together.

It was so fun and I think that’s something we try to do too…We’re in the ready room, and I think relays are really important for Team USA. I think it’s something we put a lot of pride in, and so to be up there we just remind each other that we’re representing the best country in the world at the highest stage that we could ever be on and we just need to go have fun and do our best. So we just had a blast!

When asked about his general outlook on the potential U.S. Olympic Team, Head Men’s coach Bowman expressed,

I think we’re improving over what I thought a year ago. We had some pretty strong swims at the Men’s NCAA’s. Caeleb Dressel will be a key element… That’s kind of what we need for that 4×100 to be competitive; we need somebody new to step up… I think we have some people who are showing some real ability to do it [step up] at the top level.

Learn about the 2016 Make a Splash Tour and get an insiders look at the exciting summer ahead while USA Swimming Foundation Ambassadors Missy Franklin and Rowdy Gaines share with you the important message, mission and goals of the USA Swimming Foundation.

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