Maritza McClendon
2004 Olympic silver medalist, first woman of color to make the U.S. Olympic swim team, water safety advocate, and former Director of Community Affairs & Corporate Communications at Carter's.
1
APPEARANCES
1
PODCASTS
Aug 7, 2026
Tom HudsonHOST
What are some of the reasons that people don't provide swimming lessons or have their child in swimming lessons at a young age?
Maritza McClendonGUEST
Yeah, you know, I think it's spot on to what Casey's already been saying.
Maritza McClendonGUEST
There's multiple layers to everything, including reasons why you don't learn how to swim.
Maritza McClendonGUEST
It could be lack of access, maybe lack of knowledge of where to go find water safety lessons at.
Maritza McClendonGUEST
And I also think another big barrier, which I don't think we've talked about, is adults who learn how to swim.
Maritza McClendonGUEST
So if you as a parent don't know how to swim, there's actually only an 88 or 13 percent chance that your child will learn how to swim.
Tom HudsonHOST
Maritza, any experience with that? What are your thoughts on that as someone who is advocating for swimming lessons?