By ERICA ESTEP
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Some Knoxville kids never dreamed of swimming like an Olympian or even stepping one toe in a pool. But thanks to a $10,000 grant from Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps' Foundation, they are safer in the water.
It's hard to believe a group of kids swimming the width of the indoor pool at the Haslam Family Boys & Girls Club was terrified to even be near water at the beginning of the summer. Now, they make swimming look natural.
"Getting in the water initially it was, oh I can't do this! I'm scared! I'm going to drown! That's the first fear, I am going to drown immediately," said program Director Christina Baker Smith.
That's exactly how siblings Destin, nine, and Meshach Thomas, ten, felt.
"I was afraid that I was going to drown," Destin said.
"I was like scared, really, really scared, and said do not let go of me," added big brother Meshach.
The Michael Phelps grant allowed the club to add an additional certified lifeguard, a support staff member to be an extra set of eyes outside the pool, and to purchase swim wear and swim medals to reward the kids.
The biggest goal is to save lives. "We know that African-Americans are at a higher risk of drowning, and most of our population is from the African-American community," said Smith.
"So if we can do anything to prevent those deaths this is something so simple, but it's a gift for these kids that will benefit them for the rest of their lives," Smith added.
Destin says her swim coach gave her time to get used to the water and explained what to do in a way that was easy to understand.
"I learned if I can stand in three feet, then I can swim, and I need to practice if I want to go in the deep end," Destin said. "I have to practice to put my face into the water."
Most of the kids at the North Knoxville club may never have gotten this chance if not for the program. Many of their parents, or other family members don't swim, and have passed on their fear of water.
"A lot of our parents were initially very hesitant," recalled Smith. "They said, 'You know I don't swim. I'm not sure if I want my kids to swim if I'm not there. What if something happens to them? Swimming is just a danger zone so we're going to avoid it completely.'"
Now the little swimmers can take what they've learned home.
"Some of them (family members) say that I don't want to go in there because it's too cold for me, sometimes it's too hot for me, and sometimes it goes flowing over. I say, I felt the same way, but I learned how to swim, and I got better at it," Meshach said.
The Haslam Family Boys & Girls Club was one of only 16 nationwide to receive the Michael Phelps' Foundation grant.
In addition to expanding the club's safe swimming classes, the program teaches healthy eating, exercise and goal setting.
They will have to re-apply for the grant next year.
"I learned if I can stand in three feet, then I can swim, and I need to practice if I want to go in the deep end," Destin Thomas said. "I have to practice to put my face into the water."
