The International Swimming Hall of Fame honored Benjamin Franklin for his contributions to the sport of swimming, and the city of Fort Lauderdale deemed February 19 as Benjamin Franklin Day in the city.
Franklin did a Q&A with the swimmers at the local Swim Fort Lauderdale club team during his visit to Fort Lauderdale, which can be viewed below.
Franklin talked about why he learned how to swim (3:17) and why he enjoys it so much, bringing up the book “The Art of Swimming” as his inspiration.
Franklin also recounted a story of when he swam in the Thames River in London and how he almost became a swim instructor (5:45). He also talked about how he improved on the invention of the hand paddle (8:39), which many swimmers still use today.
Franklin also told the audience of local swimmers how he learned how to swim (10:52) nearly 300 years ago. He said he would drop an egg in the ocean and then lean forward (facing the shore) to try and pick up the egg. He learned that he could still float while he tried to pick up the egg.
Franklin closed the Q&A (12:46) by admitting he did not wear anything while he swam in the 1700’s.
Benjamin Franklin was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1968 as a contributor
Congratulations – this is wonderful. I’ve posted links to it at
http://friendsoffranklin.org/swimming-hall-of-fame/