Sports

(VIDEO) Swimmers Try to Help Break World Record in Upper St. Clair

Folks from approximately 700 locations from around the globe took part in the unique effort.

The Community and Recreation Center at Boyce Mayview Park served as one of approximately 700 locations from around the globe on Tuesday as part of an effort to break the world record for the largest swimming lesson.

Swimmers ages 3 to 12 (and their instructors) gathered from 11 to 11:30 a.m.—Eastern Standard Time that is—at the rec center's indoor water park to practice strokes and breathing techniques while tens of thousands of other participants from five continents did the same thing at the exact same time at other locations.

Although an official total participation count is not yet known (verification by Guinness World Records pending), the rec center's aquatics staff said that the previous world record—also held by Tuesday's chief organizing group, The World's Largest Swimming Lesson—will most likely fall.

The event was free to the public—Upper St. Clair Township resident or not, rec center member or not. The World's Largest Swimming Lesson organization provides the lesson plan as well as certificates and wristbands for participants.

"Chris Biswick (the rec center's aquatics supervisor) brought it to my attention to see if I wanted to run it (the swimming lesson)," said Mike Kelly, the center's aquatics coordinator. "You sign up as a host location, pay a small entry fee and then people come sign up for it."

Kelly said that hosting the event provides an opportunity for the rec center to gain exposure.

"(For example,) people might not realize that we teach the American Red Cross swim lessons," Kelly said. "They might not know that. They might not have ever been here before. So, maybe they'll see the facility and come back and sign up with us.

"And for people that are members, this is a little bonus."

Peters Township resident Rina Gangopadhyay, already a member, brought two sons, 11-year-old Orion and 10-year-old Dilan, to the event.

"My kids were in a camp, but they said they would like to come and participate in this more so than go to their camp," Gangopadhyay said. "They're very excited about it."

Gangopadhyay was asked if the possibility of breaking a world record was what enticed Orion and Dilan to come.

"I think that's what it was," Gangopadhyay said. "I think they said, 'That sounds cool.'"

Should all paperwork go as planned, the rec center's approximately 25 swimmers on Tuesday will be added to the record-attempt's official count.


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