Worlds Largest Swim Lesson? South Gate Hopes it Helped Set the Record

It was one for the record books; At least staffers from the City of South Gate hope so.

On Tuesday, June 18, some 78 water fans gathered at the South Gate Swimming Pool to participate in the fourth annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson.

The organization that presents the event, which goes by the same name, invites agencies and aquatic centers to host classes simultaneously. The Guinness World organization determines if the all the locations measure up to the title World’s Largest Swim Lesson.

It will take a couple of weeks before they know if they set the record, said Paul Adams, Director of Parks and Recreation for South Gate. Guinness officials must look through photos and count attendees, Adams said.

Record or not, the event regularly fulfills its other big mission, bringing awareness to the need teach youngsters pool and water safety, Adams and the organizers behind the event said.

According to statistics provided by World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, drowning remains the leading cause of unintended- and injury-related death for children ages 1-5. It is the second leading cause of accidental death for children under 14. 

Research shows participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent among children aged 1 to 4, yet many kids do not receive formal swimming or water safety training, according to the statistics.

“This highlights how important it is for them to come by the pool and see where they can get swimming lessons,” Adams said. The children can learn to self rescue. And there have even been cases in which children have saved younger relatives or playmates, he said

“And it introduces them to an activity that will keep them fit,” he said.

While that message is spread, participants await to hear if they set a new record. Team World’s Largest Swim Lesson already holds the current Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson, which stands at 24,873 participants representing 15 different countries across five continents, organizers said.