Olympic gold medal swimmers to teach clinic at Cedar Rapids YMCA

CEDAR RAPIDS - Two gold medalists from Team USA Olympic Swimming will visit Cedar Rapids Sunday to coach young competitive swimmers and help them improve their skills and motivation in the sport.

Jason Lezak and Kelsi Worrell are to host two swim clinics at the Helen G. Nassif YMCA, 207 Seventh Ave. SE. The clinics are only open to members of the Iowa YMCA Competitive Swim League, said Donald Pirrie, regional representative for the North Central YMCA swimming region.

The first session takes place from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. and is for children ages 8 to 10.

The second session is from 3 to 6 p.m. and is for children ages 11 to 18.

For $30 per person, clinic participants will hit the water with the Olympians for demonstrations and instructions on techniques and swim strokes, according to a news release from the YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metro Area. Some may even have the chance to test their mettle in a race against the Olympians.

Lezak and Worrell also plan to pose for photos and sign autographs throughout the clinics.

Pirrie said the clinics overlap briefly in the afternoon, allowing for Lezak and Worrell to speak to participants about their time as Olympians, and how they each got their start.

Being able to be around these Olympic swimmers, who dedicate their lives to the sport, 'is really important for the kids to see and learn from,” Pirrie said.

'Swimming is a very difficult sport,” Pirrie said. 'It takes a lot of commitment and dedication.”

Worrell, 22, represented the U.S. in the 2016 Rio Olympics and went on to win gold in the 4x100 medley relay. She holds the American record in the 100 and 200 butterfly.

Lezak, 41, has traveled to four Olympics during his career, including the London 2012 games where, at age 36, he became the oldest male swimmer to medal at the Olympics.

He won two bronze, two silver and four golds during his Olympic career and in 2002, he became the No. 1 ranked sprinter in the world.

The event, which is hosted by the Iowa YMCA Competitive Swim League and the MACR Sharks Swim Team, is a part of The Mutual of Omaha Breakout Swim Clinic, a program that hosts events across the country to help improve competitive swimmers' skills.

Swim with the stars

What: Competitive swimming clinics with U.S. Olympic gold medalists Jason Lezak and Kelsi Worrell.

When: Two clinics are offered Sunday - 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. for children ages 8 to 10 and from 3 to 6 p.m. for children ages 11 to 18.

Where: Helen G. Nassif YMCA, 207 Seventh Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids.

Cost: $30, which includes instruction, T-shirt and goody bag.

Sign up: The clinics are limited to members of the Iowa YMCA Competitive Swim League. To register, send an email to iowayswimming@gmail.com.

l Comments: (319) 368-8536; michaela.ramm@thegazette.com