INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Sports Corp on Thursday announced that the Swim IN Safety program presented by Eli Lilly and Company reached its goal of training 50,000 Indiana residents to be water safe.
“We are thrilled to have reached our goal with the Swim IN Safety program,” said Indiana Sports Corp President Patrick Talty. “Our mission at Indiana Sports Corp includes providing a positive impact in our community with each event we host and what better way to make an impact than by teaching 50,000 Hoosiers a lifelong skill that could potentially save their lives.”
In partnership with the Indy Aquatic Alliance longitudinal program, Swim IN Safety was launched in 2022 to teach water safety to as many Hoosiers ages 5 and older as possible. The program focused on recruiting and providing resources in support of organizations offering programming to teach participants to save themselves if they fall in water. In conjunction with the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Swimming presented by Lilly, Swim IN Safety, along with USA Swimming and the Local Organizing Committee, set a goal of training 50,000 Indiana residents to be water safe.
“Swim In Safety’s achievement of training 50,000 Hoosiers in water safety is a testament to the power of collaboration in the swimming community,” said Joel Shinofield, Managing Director of Sport Development at USA Swimming. “Teaching essential self-rescue and swimming skills not only reduces the risk of drowning but also empowers individuals to feel confident and safe around water. We are proud to have been part of this incredible initiative, which leaves a legacy of safety and education for future generations.”
Water safety is defined as 1) learning and practicing progressive self-rescue and swimming skills that help reduce the risk of drowning and 2) building those skills so an individual can be more comfortable and confident in and around water. Water safety classes included five 40-minute sessions to instruct participants on how to save themselves if they fall in water.
“As a co-chair for the U.S Swim Trials and Vice Chair of Indiana Sports Corp, it has been an honor to be part of this vision to help save lives and empower individuals toward greater water-confidence.’ said Karin Sarratt, executive vice president, OneAmerica Financial. “This program will have a lasting impact on the community in which we live and work for generations to come and opens the doors for greater progress on many levels. This is Indy at its finest.”
Swim IN Safety served as one of several legacy initiatives surrounding the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials that took place at Lucas Oil Stadium June 15-23.
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About Indiana Sports Corp
Founded in 1979 as the nation’s first sports commission, Indiana Sports Corp is a not-for-profit organization focused on bringing premier sporting events to Indiana to drive economic vitality, facilitate a vibrant community with civic pride and garner positive media attention. Because of this, Indiana Sports Corp is able to provide positive, sports-related opportunities for youth in the community. For more information, please visit IndianaSportsCorp.org.