By Will Baxley on SwimSwam
Double Olympic Champion Cullen Jones and World Champion Maritza McClendon (nee Correia) helped Fairfax County Public Schools make a splash with its new water safety initiatives.
The two Olympians joined the Virginia school district, which ranks as the 12th largest in the country, for two tour days to promote the program across the Washington, D.C. suburb.
The tour consisted of both dry-land and in-water water safety sessions across the county. Attendees were also able to familiarize themselves with recreational water activities like water polo and boating. With its gold-medal guests, the tour aimed to promote FCPS’ new water safety initiatives. The district’s 3rd through 5th graders learn water safety in their physical education classes, and FCPS is piloting eight-week learn-to-swim classes for 3rd graders in some of its schools this year. It’s also piloting lifeguard and water safety certifications for 10th through 12th grade students in the district.
Watch a video from the tour days here:
Jones was a staple sprinter on Team USA throughout the 2000s and early 2010s. His perhaps most high-profile swim was his contribution to the iconic men’s 4×100 freestyle relay gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as an individual 50 free silver in London 2012. McClendon earned her biggest hardware as a sprinter on Team USA’s medal-winning relays at the 2004 Athens Olympics as well as 2001 Fukuoka and 2003 Barcelona World Championships.
Jones and McClendon are also trailblazers among Black swimmers. McClendon was the first Black swimmer to break a world record, in a SCM relay, while Jones was the first Black swimmer to hold a world record in the long pool. McClendon was all the first Black American to win an Olympic swimming medal, while Jones was the first Black man to do the same. Additionally, McClendon is also a trailblazer for the Hispanic community. She’s the only Puerto Rican-born athlete on record to win an Olympic swimming medal.
The pair of Olympians both told FCPS they first got into swimming out of health or safety concerns: Correia began lessons per a doctor’s recommendation after a scoliosis diagnosis, while Jones enrolled in classes after a near-drowning incident. They’re giving back to a program that aims to equitably provide water safety and recreation opportunities across all youth in one of the top swimming regions in the country.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Cullen Jones & Maritza (Correia) McClendon Help Fairfax County Public Schools Launch Water Safety Program
Hence then, the article about cullen jones maritza correia mcclendon help fairfax county public schools launch water safety program was published today ( ) and is available on swimswam ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Cullen Jones & Maritza (Correia) McClendon Help Fairfax County Public Schools Launch Water Safety Program )
Also on site :
- Josh Jacobs addresses battery incident ahead of Packers return: ‘Three-second decision can alter your life’
- Trabzonspor vs Heart of Midlothian Live Stream: How to Watch the Conference League
- Latest transfer news today: Arsenal eye ‘next Dimitar Berbatov’, Chelsea plot move for rival midfielder