Local swimmers go for world record
Nearly 100 Cape Coral residents went for the record books last week – the Guinness Book of World Records, that is. They took part, as many in Southwest Florida did, in the World’s Largest Swim Lesson.
Cape swimmers took to both Sun Splash Family Waterpark and the Cape Coral Yacht Club pool to get a swim lesson. At the exact same time, four Lee County Parks pools had swimmers participating.
“It was more of a safety lesson,” said Sun Splash Manager Sandy Greiner. “We literally had to follow minute by minute of instructions from the Guiness people on their website. For example, we worked to improve floating ability,” she said.
It was a lot of fun, she said, for the swimmers and her lifeguard staff.
“We had children and adults,” she said.
She noted the mood was exciting, and at the end, everyone that participated got a printed certificate stating they had been part of the record challenge. “People really loved that,” she said. “They were thrilled they could be part of a record-breaking event.”
The record tallying hasn’t been completed yet. She said pools all over the world are still turning in strict paperwork and videos that prove who they had at the event.
“I’m thinking it may even be another week,” she said.
It stated promptly at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 14, when the whistle blew.
The event was worldwide, from Brazil to Dubai and throughout the U.S. The winner did 20,000 lessons last year.
This 30-minute lesson did not take the place of longer formal lesson.
She said their records were checked from registration rosters as well as two eye witness accounts.
“They were then sent to Guinness World Headquarters,” she said.
“We will also be offering free water safety clinics once more, with the next Saturday, July 7, at 9 a.m., before the park opens. They are free to the public, and no admission charge at that time.”
Sun Splash Family WaterPark is located at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd. For information, call 574-0558.