Some young swimmers had the chance to train with two Olympians at the Flushing YMCA on Sunday. NY1’s Tanya Klich filed this report.
Members of the Flyers Swim Team jumped into an action-packed clinic Sunday with Olympic gold medalists Jason Lezak and Josh Davis.
The athletes trained with the young swimmers at the Flushing YMCA in hopes of inspiring the next generation of Olympians.
”We teach the kids all the things we learned growing up and some of the tricks that helped us become Olympians," Lezak said.
"To meet Jason and I and the other Olympians, they say, 'Oh! They're just kind of like regular people, normal people, who've had extraordinary commitment. Maybe I could do it, too,'" Davis said.
Their visit comes at just the right time as the Flyers will head to Buffalo on March 18 for the New York State YMCA Championship Meet.
"It's a great motivator for the swimmers. They have a good time, they enjoy meeting the athletes who are gold medalists, and they get very motivated for our state championships," said Richard Finkelstein, head swim coach at the Flushing YMCA.
"I hope that everyone keeps in mind all the tips they give throughout this last week of practice," said one young athlete.
The Olympians say they're helping the young athletes improve more than just swimming techniques. They're also teaching them skills that can be used outside the pool.
"All those different things that people love in swimming, people love to hire swimmers because of that," Lezak said. "They get a hard work ethic, and they put in a lot of hours."
Coach Richard Finkelstein been teaching at the YMCA for 30 years.
"He does this just to see the potential we all have in us," said a young member of The Flyers.
Lezak and Davis are among several Olympic swimmers that travel around the country as part of Mutual of Omaha's BREAKOUT! swim clinics.