Lili Ibanez, a Mexico native that represented her country in 2012 and 2016 in the Olympic games, holds national records and studies/swims at Texas A&M, is doing her part in raising awareness for hispanic families and the drowning rates. The swim meet, National Hispanic Heritage Meet, will be this Saturday and will be a way to reach out to Latino/Hispanic Americans on water safety. Ibanez will be speaking after the event at the dinner. Below is the Facebook announcement and Facebook page for the event.
“Many hispanic families don’t think about teaching their children. I think we can make an impact and motivate them!” – Lili Ibanez
The Raleigh Swimming Association (RSA), the Triangle’s oldest year-round swim organization, is hosting the 2 nd Annual National Hispanic Heritage Swim Meet at Sonner Aquatic Facility in Raleigh on Saturday, October 15 th at 2:30p.m. This swimming competition was specifically designed to allow youth swimmers of all levels to be able to participate.
“One of our goals at RSA is to reach out to under-served populations in swimming”, said Board President Neil Horman. “It is hard to ignore facts like, 60% of Latino children in this country do not know how to swim or that only 1 in 10 kids from non-swimming families will ever learn how to swim. As an organization, we feel a sense of duty to bring awareness to this issue,” added Board Member Laura Hubbard.
The National Hispanic Heritage Swim Meet hopes to foster swim awareness and water safety among Latino/Hispanic youth while celebrating the heritage of Latino/Hispanic Americans in our state and in the United States. Any child 18 years old or younger, as well as US Masters swimmer, club-affiliated and/or non-year-round swimmer of any level or background is welcome to participate.
Following the swim meet, RSA is hosting a dinner for the swimmers. Former two-time Olympic Mexico National Team swimmer, Lili Ibáñez is the featured speaker. Lili Ibáñez is the current Mexican National Record Holder in the 50, 100, and 200 meter freestyles, as well as the 50 meter butterfly, and has represented Mexico internationally for multiple years in a row. Ibáñez competed at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. She has also represented Mexico in the Pan American Games and the World Championships. She is originally from Celaya, Mexico and attends Texas A&M University where she will be graduating with a masters in land and property development.
Registration for the NHHS Meet are open until October 10th , 2016. Please contact [email protected] for a registration form or call (919) 859-4881.
Founded in 1960, RSA is the Triangle area’s oldest year-round swimming organization. RSA is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization with the mission of providing aquatic programming to all ages in a healthy and safe
Courtesy of The Raleigh Swimming Association (RSA) and Lili Ibanez
Awesome stuff! People will listen!:)