FEATURE
Former US Olympic coach heads to Midmar to launch global water safety campaign
One of the most respected names in swimming , Doug Ingram , will travel to KwaZulu-Natal this month for the launch of a unique global swimming initiative .
The Frankie and Friends LLC Global Campaign will be launched at the 50th anniversary of the world ’ s largest open water event – the aQuellé Midmar Mile , on 12 February .
Ingram is a former US Olympic swimming coach and former member of the USA Olympic Committee who now consults for the USA Olympic Committee and other national Olympic committees , and also has a passion for water safety and Learn to Swim programmes .
The Frankie and Friends LLC Global Campaign , featuring the loveable frog character , Frankie , promotes water safety and the importance of swimming as a life skill , as well as the need to make swimming lessons more easily accessible to all – to reduce drownings .
Another goal of the campaign is raising the standard of Learnto Swim instruction through ongoing Teach the Teacher / Coach initiatives .
“ It ’ s really tragic how many people drown , especially under the age of five , and especially in underserved communities ,” said Ingram . “ There ’ s so much water on this planet that everybody needs to learn how to swim .
“ My passion was sparked and kindled way back in my early career , but it ’ s continued all the way through – the more people we teach to swim , the further our reach is , the more we spread this particular [ Frankie and Friends ] methodology , the better we ’ re going to be as a planet as a whole ,” he added .
Frankie And Friends ( LLC ) will be setting up a pop-up pool at the aQuellé Midmar Mile which will allow members of the public free access to a Learn-to-Swim lesson .
Meanwhile , also part of the campaign is helping identify talented swimmers from disadvantaged families and assisting them with high-performance training – the ultimate goal of representing their country and competing on the international stage .
“ If you ’ re going to be an Olympic swimmer , you have to start somewhere and Learn to Swim is where it begins so it ’ s really key that we don ’ t forget our roots and don ’ t forget the fact that we all have to learn at some point and learn properly ,” said Ingram .
S WIM SAFE
Swim for Life
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As part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations and the Frankie and Friends LLC launch , teams of swimmers will participate in the 8-mile charity challenge to raise both funds and awareness .
Heading up that drive is the face of the Frankie and Friends methodology , former African triathlon champion and accomplished swimming coach Dominique Donner-Rodd .
Frankie and Friends LLC will also be selling towels , peak caps , transfers ( temporary tattoos ) and water bottles , all with the aim to launch the Swim Safe , Swim for Life campaign .
16 aQuellé Midmar Mile | Worlds Largest Open Water Swim