[Archived] City of Alexandria to Host World’s Largest Swimming Lesson on June 20

For Immediate Release: June 10, 2019

The City of Alexandria will host the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ on Thursday, June 20, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., at Old Town Pool (1609 Cameron St.). As part of the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, aquatic facilities around the globe will host lessons on the same day in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record. 

All ages are invited to participate in this free event to help break the world record, learn and spread the word about the importance of teaching swimming to help prevent drowning and meet U.S. Olympic Swimmer Maddy Crippen. Alexandria’s trained water safety instructors and Wahoos Swim Team coaches will lead a free group swim lesson as part of the largest simultaneous swimming lesson conducted at multiple venues. Over the course of 24 hours, tens of thousands of youth and adults at aquatic facilities around the world will participate at approximately 600 locations in more than 20 countries.

The City of Alexandria is partnering with Pool Safely, a national public education campaign from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, aimed at reducing child drownings and non-fatal submersions, as well as entrapments in public swimming pools and spas. In the United States, drowning remains the leading cause of unintentional death in children ages one to four, and the second leading cause among children ages five to 14. Research shows that participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children aged one to four, yet many do not receive formal swimming or water safety training.  

To register to participate, visit alexandriava.gov/Recreation.

For more information or to request a reasonable disability accommodation, contact lindsay.burneson@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5457, Virginia Relay 711.