COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, September 4. THE Swim 1922 partnership between USA Swimming and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated has done many great things over the year to advance the education of swim opportunities, water safety and learn-to-swim to the black community. Through USA Swimming presence at the five Sigma Gamma Rho regional conferences, the two organizations have begun to build a strong foundation for swim advocacy. Form July 18th to the 22nd However, during the 55th Boule National Conference at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland, USA Swimming and Sigma Gamma Rho blew expectations out of the water with a fun event that had everyone on their feet.
Thanks to support from a variety of sponsors including USA Swimming swim suit sponsors, TYR, Arena and Speedo, USA Swimming and Sigma Gamma Rho were able to put on a premier event on Saturday, July 19th called Stomp the Runway. Women of Sigma Gamma Rho and men from fraternities in the National Pan Hellenic Council worked it out on the runway for a standing-room-only crowd of over 1500 including the international officers of Sigma Gamma Rho in swim suits provided by USA Swimming sponsors and others. The latest looks from each brand were separated by step routines from the top step teams in Sigma Gamma Rho from all over the country.
“The partnership between Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and USA Swimming has been a dream come true. The dream was that our sisterhood would be able to educate youth in becoming safer in and around the water while spreading global awareness of this ongoing issue of drowning,” said International Grand Basileus Bonita M. Herring. “Members around the country support the swim clinics and have planned numerous events to spread the message about swimming. Now, the Stomp the Runway fashion show was a fantastic event. It started as a simple idea and the result was this very professional production that showcased stepping, talent and all of the fabulous models and generously provided swim suits by USA Swimming sponsors and others. My hats definitely go off to the planning team for this fun and never-before-seen addition to our conference.”
To make the event even more special, Swim 1922 spokeswoman and Olympian Maritza Correia, who is also a member of Sigma Gamma Rho, punctuated the show with a special walk-out in her 2004 Olympic gear and donning her Athens medal as well as her World Championship medals. Alongside Maritza was the 2nd Grand Basileus of Sigma Gamma Rho Emmanuela Ebunilo and Swim 1922 Undergraduate Liaison LaKia Snowden in custom made suits sporting the Sigma Gamma Rho shield.
To view the Swim 1922 Fashion Show Mashup, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3XQG_uOC8M
To learn more about the Swim 1922 partnership, visit: www.usaswimming.org/swim1922.
The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com.