In a year unlike any other, the 2020 Golden Goggle Awards will also make an unprecedented move to an all-virtual format on Thursday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Due to travel and social distancing precautions, guests will now be able to attend the event from the comfort of their home online at usaswimming.org on November 19 and via rebroadcast on Olympic Channel Tuesday, November 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Customarily a red-carpet gala which honors the USA Swimming National Team and raises funds for the USA Swimming Foundation, this year’s 17th annual Golden Goggle Awards will continue the celebration of swimming excellence by honoring the 1980 Olympic swim team, along with members of the swimming community who’ve been serving the front lines during this pandemic.
“Golden Goggles is definitely going to have a different look this year, but it’s still a great opportunity to honor the incredible people within our sport,” USA Swimming Chief Operating Officer Mike Unger said. “This year’s event will include a salute to our front-line workers keeping Americans safe as well as a celebration honoring the 40-year anniversary of the 1980 Olympic team. The athletes on this team have long-deserved this recognition.”
Meet the athletes of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Swim Team: here
Those who tune in for the event are encouraged to dress up for the evening and kindly donate $21 to the USA Swimming Foundation, if you are in a position to do so. Virtual tables that include a digital watch party kit and a meet and greet with a National Team athlete are now on sale by contacting Jill Johnson at jjohnson@usaswimming.org. As in years past, a silent auction will also be held with dozens of unique items available for bids. Proceeds from the Golden Goggle Awards and auction benefit the USA Swimming Foundation, whose mission is to save lives and build champions. In addition to its learn-to-swim initiative, the USA Swimming Foundation supports the U.S. National Team and its development efforts aimed at strengthening the future of USA Swimming’s programs and services. This year the USA Swimming Foundation also awarded more than $3 million in COVID-19 grant relief support to more than 700 clubs across the country.
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