Local Olympic gold medalist teaches Detroit kids to swim

DETROIT (WXYZ) - According to the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, six out of ten kids will never learn how to swim in the city of Detroit.

It estimates one hundred thousand children in Detroit have never been in a pool.  Organizers hope to make a big splash through a relatively new program called Detroit SWIMS.

With the help of Olympic gold medalist Peter Vanderkaay , a group is teaching many kids as they can to be good swimmers.

Vanderkay is also University of Michigan All-American swimmer.  He was a part of the 2008 American summer Olympic relay team that set a world record along with Michael Phelps.

He  tells  7 Action news  he enjoys teaching the children valuable lessons.   “Most importantly…you can see the smile as on their faces,” says Vanderkaay.

Just last year, four hundred kids became proficient in swimming, according to Nikole Saffle the Detroit SWIM’s creator.   “African American and Latino children in urban settings have a drowning rate that’s three times higher… and that’s due to lack of availably of swimming pools and being able to get in swim lessons.”

Many little swimmers participating were pretty brave about jumping into the water with limited experience, including 6 year old Charisse Woods.   “You’re kind of nervous at first and then you get the hang of it and it’s starts to be fun when you do it,” says Woods.

The YMCA is asking for donations of 65 dollars per child.  The money would help one child to learn how to swim in just 8 weeks.

The goal is to raise 100,000 within the year.