{"id":432640,"date":"2020-05-20T08:41:43","date_gmt":"2020-05-20T15:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=432640"},"modified":"2020-05-20T12:32:40","modified_gmt":"2020-05-20T19:32:40","slug":"usa-swimming-california-lscs-pen-letter-to-governor-requesting-pools-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/usa-swimming-california-lscs-pen-letter-to-governor-requesting-pools-open\/","title":{"rendered":"USA Swimming California LSCs Pen Letter to Governor Requesting Pools Open"},"content":{"rendered":"

The fight to get back in the water has begun in many places around the world, but it has gotten stronger in California. Already with some clubs getting back in the water because local COVID-19 guidelines allow it, several USA Swimming California Local Swimming Community (LSC) directors have written a letter to the California Gov. Gavin Newsom<\/strong>, respectfully asking for pools to be declared safe to use for USA Swimming athletes.<\/p>\n

The letter is signed by five LSC general chairs: Mark Brown<\/strong> of Sierra Nevada Swimming, Mike Carpente<\/strong>r of Central California Swimming, David Cottam<\/strong> of Pacific Swimming, Terry Stoddard<\/strong> of Southern California Swimming and Sally Taggart<\/strong> of San Diego Imperial Swimming. It was also sent to local USA coaches in California.<\/p>\n

The letter<\/a> states that more than 40,000 athletes, 440 small businesses and 3,400 employees in California are registered members of USA Swimming.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe greatly appreciate your thoughtful leadership through this coronavirus pandemic,\u201d the letter reads. \u201cYou have saved so many lives and are focused on making good business decisions using science and data. USA Swimming and the impacted athletes, business owners or teams, and employees truly believe that we can safely return to the pool now without jeopardizing the \u2018new\u2019 normal live(s) that all Californians want and deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

The letter then discusses reasons that swimming is thought to be safe and includes a link to the USA Swimming reopening plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe firmly believe that pools across the state can be used now for lap swimming and supervised groups of USA Swimming members in a safe manner,\u201d the letter reads. \u201cOperating in the current phase of the reopening of California\u2019s business communities will further support your objective of supporting businesses that can meet the needed physical distancing requirements and safe operations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Signators on this letter, representing the small business community and young athletes associated with competitive swimming, respectfully request that you allow pools to open for lap swimming and competitive swim practice during the current phase.\u201d<\/p>\n

Swimming Through a Pandemic<\/h4>\n

The postponements and cancellations wrought by COVID-19 haven\u2019t just affected the Olympics and the ranks of elite swimmers. They\u2019ve trickled down to neighborhood clubs and summer youth leagues, affecting thousands of recreational and competitive swimmers alike. Here is some of our coverage of COVID-19\u2019s effect on the American summer swimming calendar.<\/em><\/p>\n