February 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 43

" We started our program because
there were so few minorities in
swimming. The idea was to destroy
the image that African-Americans
were not good swimmers-and
Sabir helped to destroy that myth. "
African-Americans were not good swimmers-and Sabir helped to destroy that myth. "
Just last year, Prince Georges County
started a summer league especially for
kids who do have potential-and a significant advertising push was made to attract
swimmers. The initiative was successful
enough that there will be a second facility
used for the program this summer.
" We really made a push to get competitive events going in the past year, " Gordon says. " It gets kids off the couch and
even if they don't get a scholarship, there
is great opportunity in lifeguard jobs. And
many lifeguards move on to be police officers or emergency medical technicians.
Through swimming, kids can learn at a
young age how to protect other people. "
-Harvey Chipkin

-Greg Gordon, Prince George's
County, Maryland, Aquatics Director

Muhammad excelled at both the self-discipline and the
fast swimming. After his " first " swimming career ended,
and armed with an MBA from Emory University, Muhammad entered the corporate world. He also set up a program
in Atlanta called Swim For Life, along with the Boys and Girls
Clubs of Atlanta, to encourage kids to learn how to swim.
Swim For Life was eventually merged into Make A
Splash, a USA Swimming initiative. Make A Splash Atlanta,
in a pilot program, secured a $500,000 grant from the Atlanta Falcons Youth Organization and an additional $1 million from USA Swimming to operate its programs.
In fact, Muhammad remains active through Make a Splash
in advancing safety in swimming, noting that, " Between medical costs, work absenteeism, and other expenses, drowning
costs $5.7 billion a year-plus the tragic loss of life. "
As a result, Muhammad, believes that, " Learning to
swim should be a fundamental part of education, because
it has a huge impact on the quality of life. "
And talk about self discipline. Not only is Muhammad
looking to start his own business, he recently finished a
manuscript for a children's book chronicling his life as a
swimmer; working title: Born To Swim.
" More than any other sport, swimming trains you mentally Muhammad says. " You have to adapt the way you think
about the world because the laws of gravity don't apply; it's
a truly unique environment for children.
" And, " Muhammad says, " swimming is the only sport
that teaches you a lifesaving skill. "
Muhammad retired from swimming in 2004-but at 33
he's coming back-looking to swimmers like Dara Torres
(who competed and won silver in the 2008 Olympics at the
age of 41). He swam in an exhibition in 2008 and went back
into training, with plans for the Olympic Trials in 2012 and
eventually the Games in London.
He qualified for the USA National Team last year and
broke an American record in the 50-meter freestyle (the 50
and 100-meter freestyles have always been his specialties.)
He continues to train in municipal pools and, says Jackson dryly, " He still comes around to the pool and I help him
out. We were together all the years he was in school and
we'll always be together. I consider him a son. He's a great
young man and always has been. "

Harvey Chipkin is a freelance writer based in Bloomfield,

New Jersey.

www.NRPA .ORG

February 2010

Parks & Recreation

February 2010 - Parks & Recreation

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