Achi news desk-
More than 300 athletes from 15 different clubs across Alberta are competing this weekend at the 2024 Alberta and Northwest Territories Pool Lifesaving Championships and Junior games at the Brookfield Residential YMCA in Calgary.
The event features a number of competitive events that help build lifesaving skills, including Hurdle Swimming, Hurdle Relay, Line Tow, Rescue Medley, Manikin Carry with Fins and others.
For Life Saving Association executive director Jonathan Kusyanto, the weekend event is an opportunity for Calgarians to experience a unique competitive aquatic sport that is also a training ground for future lifeguards and swimming teachers and coaches.
“Saving life is the only sport in the world that has a humanitarian purpose attached to it. These athletes combine their athletic prowess with life saving skills,” said Kusyanto.
“The best thing about lifesaving sports is that they not only produce great lifeguards who can go out and help keep their community safe, but also great Albertans and great Canadians.”
One competitor, 12-year-old Kate Machacek, said she likes lifesaving because it offers things that swimming doesn’t – and it’s very social.
“There are no mannequins in the swim, they don’t have tubes and things like that,” Machacek said.
One competitor, 12-year-old Kate Machacek, said she likes lifesaving because it offers events that swimming doesn’t – and it’s very social.
“They have different events and it’s cool to see the differences between the summer and junior lifeguard club.
“Swimming is good exercise and also fun to socialize with my team mates,” he added. “I know a bunch of them from swimming in the summer, so I get to see them over the winter and then it’s also fun to meet new people who save lives because there are so many.”
Clubs from Calgary, Cochrane, Hinton, Drayton Valley, Hinton, Lacombe, Okotoks, Pincher Creek, Spruce Grove, Claresholm, Lethbridge and Wetaskwin compete through Sunday at the Y in Seton.
