In the 03/10/1976 Washington Post Article by Dennis Collins, "DC Blacks Cut Bonds in Swim World," interesting

and relevant items are featured which I think merit further research and documentation.  The article was a report on the

DCPS Coaches Relay Championship in which 4 generations of Coaches and Swimmers gathered to celebrate African

American participation in our sport.

 Thomas Hughes, a DC resident born in 1902 , graduated from Dunbar HS in 1921…

Is drowning a problem or is it a symptom of a deeper issue?  And why even debate semantics when kids keep dying?  

I believe that drowning is actually a symptom - it’s what happens when we develop an adversarial relationship with water, and with children.  And I believe that unless we peel back the layers and look at the root causes of why children drown we won’t create lasting change.  We’re just putting band-aids on…

After I instructed swimming lessons today, I did some thinking. I had a parent approach me and ask why their child can not swim the length of the pool. Mind you, these swimming lessons are ONLY!  On Saturday. That is only 1 day a week. I am here to tell you that the World War II generation might know a little bit more wisdom. After all, it was my grandmother (Mrs. Ethel White) who said “Anything worth doing is worth doing well, haste makes waste and practice makes…

From Los Angeles Times, By Elaine Woo:

U.S. Defense Department analyst Paul E. Sullivan was the lead plaintiff in a 1969 Supreme Court case that ruled against his Virginia swim club's whites-only policy. 'He just felt right was right,' says his daughter.

Paul E. Sullivan, an analyst with the U.S. Defense Department who won an important…

  I am proposing that all DAP network affiliates gather materials in an effort to use the network resources to enable the research and production of a feature-length documentary project on the history of Swimming in the US.  So many times errors and omissions are made in the historical record until such a project is finished.

  In particular, I am urging all DAP affiliates to scan photo images, articles, and any other oral-history interviews in

an effort to compile a…

PVS Families,

 …

Doesn't it drive you crazy when someone pulls out their brag book and there are hundreds of photos to look through?  Well, that's what I'm about to do.  Bahahahahaha.  The link below will take you to the pictures from CampCaribe 2011, my travel and learning…

Speech of Hon. Chaka Fattah of Pennsylvania in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Mr. Fattah: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate a young man of remarkable achievement. Shaun Anderson is co-founder and President of…

Today when I was swimming I did some thinking.  Paul the Apostle was asked "Why are some people born physically or mentally challenged?" His reply was so that those special one's among us can show God love for us and their achievement, and what they do, and who they are, more than people without those challenges but you see God work in their lives. So you should see God work in your life. This is what I see in my envolvement with aquatics. People come to the pool. In particular the pool I…

2011 National Diversity Select Camp- Olympic Training Center- Colorado Springs, CO



The future looks bright with a great group of kids and an inspirational coaching staff here at the Olympic Training Center for the 2011 National Diversity Select Camp.  I feel that each classroom and water session have met the purpose of the camp, which is to help instill a vision of success and inspire athletes from ethnically underrepresented populations to become leaders in the sport of swimming. …

I am participating in the International Drowning Prevention Conference in Vietnam next week.  There will be over 400 participants from 50 countries gathering together to share information, to learn - and to develop a global platform regarding preventing…

Courtesy of Peter H. Bick

From SwimmingWorldMagazine.com:



Dax Hill joins The Morning Swim Show today to talk about his performances at the NCAA championships..



Hill, a sophomore at the…

Sweep rowing isn't like riding a bicycle. Once you get past training wheels, find balance and work under your own power, you're all set for life long recreational enjoyment. Doesn't matter how long you've been away from it, just as long as you know the basics, all you've gotta do is to get on and ride. You can still get from here to there without much muscle memory recall. And you don't have other cyclists depending upon you to get…

If you could choose eight people to be with you rain or shine, multiple times a week for several hours in the middle of a body of water, who would they be? When I started my rowing experience I had that opportunity to pick my own crew. I selected my husband, an athlete and adventurer, one of my employee's husband, with an infectious sense of humor, my sister, loyal and willing to try something new, the assistant dean of engineering at UofR, serious, focused and…

I am super excited about getting back into rowing this spring.  Last Wednesday, I signed up for a "guest row" at my local club.  As soon as we got the shells down to the docks, placed them in the water, and began to lock our oars into the oarlocks, lightning struck. I was so sad :( However, we quickly made good use of being at the boathouse at 5:30am by rowing on the indoor machines (ergometers, a.k.a. "ergs"). I wasn't half as shabby as I anticipated lol ;-)

Well, tonight I…

A really nice person from HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel contacted a while ago us about a story they were working on. They had come across the recent research and were appalled by the raw numbers reflecting the drowning rate of Blacks and Hispanics. We often get calls from media folks who are pursuing their stories. We welcome these calls and always hope that they will come see our program, our kids, our families, our volunteers, their families, our coaches and our community.…