Second annual Go for the Gold event a success, highlights and photo vault here

The Lakeside Seahawks brought together a collection of Olympians last weekend for their second annual Go for the Gold event to benefit the local community in Louisville, Kentucky. The event featured U.S. Olympians Margaret Hoelzer, Rachel Komisarz and Mark Gangloff along with Bahamas Olympians Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace and Elvis Burrows. You might remember Burrows promoting the event on local morning show “Good Morning Live” by showing up in his racing briefs from our post last week.

Courtesy of the Lakeside Swim Team, we’ve got some photos and highlights of the event:

A brief explanation of Go for the Gold from event organizer and Lakeside coach Nate Knopf:

Go for the Gold is:
The YUM! Brands Foundation, The Lakeside Swim Team & Rachel Komisarz, Elvis Burrows, Margaret Hoelzer, Mark Gangloff & Arianna Vanderpool Wallace.

We are in our second year of the event; Clark & Caroline Burckle, Rachel Komisarz, (all Lakeside ALUM, representing the Hawks in 12′, 08′, & 04′ respectively), Mark Gangloff & Alyssa Anderson participated in last years event (2013).  We exposed over 350 underprivileged Jefferson County Public School children to water safety, learn to swim & motivational talks by our athletes.  Then they did a swim Clinic with the Lakeside Swim Team.  The clinic included talks to the older kids & in water training with the Age Groupers.

This year due to the JCPS testing schedule, we changed the event & helped out with the JCPS & YMCA partnership by providing crucial talks to over 60 kids about the importance of education, following their dreams, etc.  The schoolchildren received a gift bag with Lakeside Swim Team, USA Swimming & YUM! Brands goodies as well as Autographed Speedo Hats from the athletes.  We then continued our tradition of a clinic with the Swim Team, followed by a great autograph session with professionally shot photos & speedo hats.

Photo Vault

All photos courtesy of photographer Wade Morgen and the Lakeside Seahawks:

Rachel Komisarz coaches a local swimmer at Go for the Gold.

Mark Gangloff gives some in-the-pool instruction.

Mark Gangloff

Margaret Hoelzer at Go for the Gold.

Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace demonstrates the catch for the Go for the Gold attendees.

A portable camera takes a ride with Elvis Burrows.

Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace