Olympic Gold Medalist Brooke Bennett Teaching Kids to Swim

CLEARWATER, FL — Clearwater area kids who need to learn how to swim are being invited to dive into lessons led by three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Brooke Bennett. The swimming champ has signed on to lead an upcoming series of low-cost classes meant to help prevent drowning deaths.

"Drowning is still the leading cause of death for kids under 5," Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos said in announcing the lessons. "We are looking to make a difference and an impact on the number of children who drown every year in Florida."

The lessons, geared to “water babies level 4 swimmers,” are set to take place twice a week for four weeks at Clearwater’s Long Center. The cost is $10 with that pricing going into effect on Aug. 15. An event unveiling the special class is set to take place at the 1501 N. Belcher Road center on Aug. 8 at 11:30 a.m.

The discount class was developed at the request of Fred Fisher and the Long Center Foundation, Jason Beisel, city spokesman said. Fisher lost a son to drowning years ago. He will be in attendance at the Aug. 8 event to share his story and celebrate the launch of the class, the city said. Fisher is considered one of Clearwater’s biggest philanthropists and helped lead the drive to raise the $14 million necessary to build the Long Center 26 years ago.

“Fisher, along with the Long Center Foundation, is offsetting the costs ot help keep the swimming lessons at $10 so families don’t have to go through what he went through when he lost his son to drowning,” an email from the city said.

Bennett, a Tampa Bay area resident, qualified for her first junior national cut at the age of 12 and went on to win her first gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Bennett was also named the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Sports Woman of the Year that year. Bennett swam her way to two additional gold-medal wins in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

In addition to helping youngsters learn safety in the water, the lessons are designed to celebrate the 2016 Rio Olympics, the city said.

The lessons are open to kids in Clearwater and the surrounding areas. No recreation card is needed.

“Within the next year, we hope to branch this out to our other Clearwater facilities,” Cretekos said.

For more information about the Long Center and its swim lessons, visit the Clearwater Parks & Recreation online.

Photo of Brooke Bennett courtesy of the City of Clearwater