FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2007
Julie Nitti
1-800-356-2722
jnitti@swimamerica.org
Paul Gordon, who learned to swim at SwimAmerica, qualified for the Olympic Trials in
the 200 IM. Gordon is the first Olympic Trials qualifier out of the Sioux Falls, SD
SwimAmerica location. Paul swims for the Snowfox Swim Team in Sioux Falls, SD and
currently teaches lessons for Edie’s program in Sioux Falls.
Here is a quote from the SwimAmerica Program Director, Edie Mueller, who runs the only SwimAmerica program in Sioux Falls SD.
“We're excited for him and proud that we provided the foundation for him to build on. We’re thrilled that the Olympic Trials are being held in Omaha NE, close enough to SD that a bunch of us will be there to cheer him on.”
Another SwimAmerica Olympic hopeful is Leila Vaziri, Coral Springs Swim Team. Leila set the World Record in the 50m backstroke in March’s World Championships.
"For Vaziri, the journey has been arduous. She is one of the few Olympic hopefuls who started at age 7 with swim lessons in the SwimAmerica program at Coral Springs Aquatic Complex and is still training at the same pool with six-time Olympic coach Michael Lohberg." Sharon Robb, Broward County, FL Sun-Sentinel Newspaper
"I watch her train today and I still see her as that little girl," Lohberg said. "Seeing her moving in the water, we already knew she would be special even though she was just a thin little thing. She went from a non-swimmer to a U.S. national champion."
Direct quote from Michael Lohberg in the Sun-Sentinel article by Sharon Robb.
In addition to Paul and Leila, another SwimAmerica student, Austin Staab, currently on the cover of Swimming World Magazine (August 2007) as the High School Swimmer Of The Year. Austin learned to swim in Jim Peterfish's SwimAmerica program and currently TEACHES in Jim's SwimAmerica program in Columbus OH.