If you had the chance for your child to form his or her earliest swimming foundational skills from a former Olympian, odds are you would absolutely take advantage of that opportunity. This is precisely the luxury that residents surrounding the Mission Viejo, California area will be able to experience as not one, but five former Olympians launch an innovative indoor learn-to-swim center in Orange County.
Felipe Delgado, Aaron Peirsol, Larsen Jensen, Gabe Woodward, and Turkish swimmer Derya Buyukuncu, all former Olympians that each have a connection to Orange County, are the brains and brawn behind “Evolution Swim Academy”. The center offers an inventive twist, that of the Olympian’s involvement, on the traditional learn-to-swim facility offering “Parent and Me” lessons, swim lessons, swim camps, as well as an introduction to water polo.
When spreading the news of the school’s opening, Peirsol put into words to the Orange County Register what it means to him to be able to give back to the community he feels gave him so much on both a personal and athletic level. “The impact and culture of swimming in Orange County, and Southern California in general, had an impact on me that reaches to the values and ideals learned and to the myriad of incredible people that instilled and perpetuated those ideals along the way,” Peirsol said. “In turn, I cannot help but reciprocate, if not in some small measure, the gifts and opportunities this community instilled in me.”
What ignites a spark in swim enthusiasts’ imaginations is how the Evolution Swim Academy is also the official feeder program to the Gators Swim Club, of which Delgado is head coach. The idea that the academy could potentially be a breeding ground of its own stable of swim students honed from an Olympian-backed program is quite an exciting prospect. Delgado says, “we have all participated in multiple Olympic games so it is a natural progression for us to offer opportunities for those that want to continue with their swim development.”
That is correct, the Olympians are not teaching the lessons but all have a hand in the development of the curriculum and instructor training.
The Olympians are not the instructors!
Moving into the Mission Viejo Nadadores swim program’s backyard…….
What an awesome and generous idea! Although already very successful, I think Orange County and SoCal in general still have so much untapped swimming potential. Kids’ swim lessons will be extra fun and for some, this will help them make the mental connection between learning to swim for fun and competitive swimming; a connection that doesn’t always just happen naturally: I remember as a kid that I enjoyed taking lessons with all of my friends, but out of 8-9 of us, I was the only one who went on to join a swim team, and even then only because I was the only one who had older brothers who both did. But having Olympian instructors at such a young age… Read more »