PCI swimmers learn from Olympians

Published 12:03 am Wednesday, August 23, 2017

On the back of their T-shirts read, “I raced a gold medalist today! What did you do?”

That’s what swimmers got the chance to do on Aug. 19 during a Mutual of Omaha Breakout! Swim Clinic at the Linda Gail Parker Aquatic Center in Poarch.

Olympic Gold Medal Swimmers Jimmy Feigen, Breeja Larson and Rowdy Gaines led the clinic, and helped participants enhance their competitive swimming skills.

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The event is a five-hour in-water stroke technique clinic for those ages 8-18. Each participant received in-water demonstration and instruction on swim strokes and techniques.

Some got the chance to test their strokes in a race against the Olympic champions.

Feigen is a two-time Olympian and one of the fastest sprinters in the world, according to a press release. At the 2012 NCAA championships, Feigen won the 100-meter freestyle, the 4×100-meter freestyle relay and the 50-meter freestyle while at the University of Texas. The San Antonio native won silver at the 2012 London Olympics in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. He won a gold medal by helping the USA win the 4×100-meter freestyle relay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Larson won the 2012 Olympic Trials after four years of training, and won gold at the games in London. She has broken the American record in breaststroke several times and is now teaching swimming.

Gaines became the oldest swimmer to qualify for the trials at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Ga. He chose not to compete in the trials, but continued his career as a television commentator, covering swimming for NBC at the games.

He has been the voice of Olympic swimming for 20 years.

During a question and answer portion of the clinic, Feigen said his favorite part of being an Olympic swimmer is the people.

Gaines said all of his medals he’s received don’t compare to the relationships he’s made over the years.

“Friendships last forever,” he said. “We all get to perform and do our best.”

Gaines acquired three Olympic gold medals and has won five world championships.

One of the participants asked the trio what their favorite pool is to swim.

“Pools in France are made of stainless steel,” Larson said.

Larson said the water is so pure it’s like you’re taking a bath.

Gains said the pool at Indianapolis, Indiana is sort of like the swimmers’ version of baseball’s Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill.

Mutual of Omaha is a full-service, multiline organization providing insurance and financial products for individuals, businesses and groups throughout the United States.

Swimmers from Poarch, Pensacola, Gulf Shores, Brewton and other areas participated in the clinic.