Young St. Louis Park Swimmers Aim to be Part of World Record

Tomorrow, young swimmers at the hope to be part of a world record.

The community center will be part of the “World’s Largest Swimming Lesson,” an international effort to raise awareness about pool and water safety, and the importance of swimming lessons.

And then there’s that whole business about the world record. The current mark for largest multi-venue swimming lesson—set during the same event last June—is 3,971 locations, according to Guinness World Records. Becky Birnell, who is organizing the event at Sabes, said more than 30,000 kids from 48 different states and 20 different countries are expected to be in the water tomorrow at 10 a.m. Central Standard Time, which is when the record attempt will actually be tallied.  The JCC will have three classes going from 9:30 to 11:10 a.m.

Birnell said she’s happy to be part of such a big event with such a critical message.

“Swimming lessons are incredibly important, especially, in my opinion, in Minnesota because of all the lakes,” she said.

Drowning is the second-leading cause of unintended, injury-related death for children ages 1-14, according to the National Center for Injury and Violence Prevention and Control, and research shows that children that don’t learn how to swim by third grade likely never will.