B-T AQUATICS

 BROWNELL-TALBOT SCHOOL  Omaha, Nebraska

AHOY, MATES! We swim for good times!

"If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water."  Loren Eisley Nebraska anthropologist, ecologist, essayist, and poet.

HILTON SWIMS

TO BEIJING

On Saturday, June 28, 2008, U.S. Olympian and eight-time Olympic gold medalist Matt Biondi dove into the pool at the Hilton Omaha for the Hilton Swim to Beijing Relay, a multi-city event that will benefit learn to swim programs across the United States.

Biondi and B-T Aquatics swimmers participated in the Hilton Swim to Beijing Relay.  This was the fifth installment toward Hilton’s goal of 6,250 laps – with each lap symbolizing one mile of the distance from the program’s Los Angeles starting point to Beijing, host city for the 2008 Olympic Games.  More than 5,050 laps had already been completed at Hilton Swim to Beijing Relay events in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Austin and San Francisco and the final lap was completed in Beijing.

At each U.S. event, Hilton contributed $10,000 to local learn-to-swim programs affiliated with the USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash program.  The Omaha-area beneficiary is the B-T Aquatics Pool Pirates Swim School

Eight-time U.S. Olympic medalist Michael Phelps launched the program in November 2007 in Los Angeles and he swam the relay’s final lap at the Beijing Hilton after competing in the 2008 Olympic Games.  Once the goal was reached, Hilton donated an additional $50,000 to The USA Swimming Foundation, bringing the hotelier’s total contribution to $100,000.

Visit the USA Swimming Foundation web page.

EVENT DATES

11/5/07: Universal Hilton, Los Angeles

11/8/07: Hilton Minneapolis

2/21/08: Hilton Austin

4/2/08: Hilton San Francisco

6/28: Hilton Omaha

8/22: Hilton Beijing

HILTON SWIMS TO BEIJING - OMAHA EVENT

June 28, 2008 - 9:00 AM

Voyager Daisy Owen at the Hilton Swims to Beijing Relay Event

Hilton Swims to Beijing Swimmers

B-T 111 PROGRAM

One hundred eleven new swimmers by June 2009

B-T Aquatics will use the money generously donated from the Hilton Hotels through the USA Swimming Foundation to launch the B-T 111 Program.  We pledge to teach one hundred eleven new swimmers by June 2009.  Program vouchers will be distributed throughout the community.  Components of the B-T 111 Program are listed below.  More information will be posted as it becomes available.

SAFETY FIRST:  We will educate parents and caregivers about water safety issues.  The first line of defense for children is the protection of those who love them.  A parent or caregiver who is vigilant and who has been given the proper water-safety education is a child’s best defense against a water-related tragedy.

FACE-UP FIRST: We will teach the new swimmers using our proven-effective Face-Up First method. The core of our method is our understanding that there is no skill more important to the safety of swimmers than a balanced, relaxed back float.  In this position, swimmers can breathe and speak or cry out. While no child is water-safe, in an aquatic emergency this knowledge buys a swimmer time.

FINISH FIRST:  We know that our passion for swimming is deeply rooted in our positive experiences as competitive swimmers.  We will offer in-house competitive opportunities for our swimmers to expose them to the many benefits that may be gained from participation in youth sports.

   WE SWIM FOR GD TIMES!