Bridgeton Swim Club
Olympic Champions Josh Davis & Peter Vanderkaay led an awesome BREAKout! Swim Clinic in Bridgeton, MO on March 8, 2009 for the swimmers of the Bridgeton Swim Club.
Check out the story below:
I wanted to pass on a great email that I received from a parent on Monday morning. You might appreciate it if you knew a little of the background on this swimmer. Eric Springli is 18 years old and last summer, during his summer swim team’s practice, they were practicing starts. Where their blocks are located, the pool is shallow…maybe only 4 ½ or 5 feet. While diving off of the blocks, Eric dove too deep and hit his head on the bottom of the pool. Luckily the lifeguard on duty was observant and did everything right while retrieving him. Eric had broken his neck. Thankfully, there wasn’t any paralysis and he only had to wear a halo for several months. Eric is swimming again and was just awarded an academic/swim scholarship to Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO.
I have attached pictures of both of her kids…
(Mom wrote:)
I just wanted to thank you for letting us know about the swim clinic. Wasn’t that the most remarkable thing? I haven’t been that inspired in a long time. Not only was it informative and interesting, but totally inspirational and motivating! Those guys were so motivating that I think I could maybe swim in the next Olympics. If that 41 year old mom can do it - - - this 47 year old mom can, too. Now - - who wants to teach me to swim?
My kids loved it as well. Eric was so inspired that he was at the YMCA at 5:30 a.m. swimming today. He also let me know what healthy food he wanted me to buy at the grocery store! He knows he still needs to get back in shape and this may have been the turning point for him to do that. Yea !!! I think Jill was just in awe of those guys. Josh asked her about her swimming and she let him know that she just won 3rd in the 100 butterfly at her high school finals. He said to her “And you are just a Freshman ? - - - - You’re fantastic!” Isn’t that exactly what these kids want to hear from them? It was great !
When Josh was telling the story about winning the gold and walking around the arena and spotting his parent - - I was in tears. I know how I feel when Eric or Jill win an event and they find me in the stands - - - I can’t imagine how his parents felt - - Wow!
Anyway, thank you, thank you, thank you !
