Olympic Swimmers grace Milford swimming school with visit. Why they stopped by

Tom Benoit, The Milford Daily News
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MILFORD — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of injury death for children aged 1-4 years. But with the help of students at Goldfish Swim School, 1,400 community members took the Safer Swimmer Pledge, earning students a visit from two Olympic medalists.

Four-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer and world record holder Ryan Murphy and four-time Olympic medalist Cullen Jones met with students Saturday at Milford's Goldfish Swim School location. Students were treated to the visit after the school earned top honors in the Goldfish Swim School's national Safer Swimmer Pledge program; a campaign designed to help combat drowning.

Cullen Jones, a four-time Olympic medalist, encourages a student during a visit to the Goldfish Swim School in Milford, Dec. 2, 2023. Jones and fellow Olympian Ryan Murphy visited with Milford student swimmers after the Milford school was the top performer in Goldfish's Safe Swimmer Pledge contest.
Cullen Jones, a four-time Olympic medalist, encourages a student during a visit to the Goldfish Swim School in Milford, Dec. 2, 2023. Jones and fellow Olympian Ryan Murphy visited with Milford student swimmers after the Milford school was the top performer in Goldfish's Safe Swimmer Pledge contest.

The Safer Swimmer Pledge program was a competition among more than 150 Goldfish Swim School locations throughout the country. The Milford location on East Main Street (Route 16) received top honors with more than 1,400 members of the Greater Milford community pledging to be safer in and around the water.

Instructor Jennifer Cruz recruited 400 people to make Safer Swimmer Pledge

Milford Goldfish Swim School instructor Jennifer Cruz recruited more than 400 pledges — the most across all team members. Cruz earned the title of Safer Swimmer Champion and won a grand prize of $2,023.

A group of about 15 students joined Murphy and Jones in the pool and got to see swimming techniques demonstrated by the two Olympians. Murphy, a brand ambassador for Goldfish Swim Schools, said children's swim lessons are important because they reduce the likelihood of drowning.

Ryan Murphy, a four-time gold medalist swimmer, high-fives a student during a visit to the Goldfish Swim School in Milford, Dec. 2, 2023.
Ryan Murphy, a four-time gold medalist swimmer, high-fives a student during a visit to the Goldfish Swim School in Milford, Dec. 2, 2023.

"Drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional death, (but) swimming lessons reduce the chances of drowning by 88%," Murphy said. "It's an important life skill for people to have."

Murphy, 28, is training for the 2024 Paris Olympics. He also announced plans to open a Goldfish Swim School location in St. Johns, Florida.

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Jones agreed. He said he learned how to swim after he was saved from a near-drowning at age 5.

"Swimming is a life skill," he said. "I'm partnering with Goldfish because as a father, it's the curriculum. Not just what they're teaching, but how they're teaching."

Students wait for Olympic swimmers Ryan Murphy and Cullen Jones at Goldfish Swim School in Milford, Dec. 2, 2023.
Students wait for Olympic swimmers Ryan Murphy and Cullen Jones at Goldfish Swim School in Milford, Dec. 2, 2023.

Jones, 39, has shifted his competitive swimming career to focus on helping children learn to be safer in and around the water, especially within minority communities that often lack access to swimming instruction. Jones was recently recognized by the International Swimming Hall of Fame for his work around water safety advocacy.

Olympians in Milford an 'awesome oppurtunity'

"It's an awesome opportunity for everyone," said Tobey Kelly, who along with her husband Tim co-owns the Milford Goldfish Swim School. "It's great for them to participate and for them (Murphy and Jones) to get in the pool with the students."

John Dickey was watching his daughter, Eleanor, 9, swim with the two Olympic medalists.

Olympic swimmer Ryan Murphy jokes with a student at the Goldfish Swim School in Milford, Dec. 2, 2023.
Olympic swimmer Ryan Murphy jokes with a student at the Goldfish Swim School in Milford, Dec. 2, 2023.

"It's absolutely a great opportunity," he said, adding that having Jones and Murphy swim with the students can inspire them.

Mina Tomovska called it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her son, Charles, 8.

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"It's incredible, it's amazing," she said. "It's great to see them interact so closely. It's not just a photo op, it's a great experience for them."

Milford Goldfish Swim School celebrates five-year anniversary

The Milford Goldfish Swim School's celebration for earning top honors in the Safer Swimmer Pledge campaign coincided with the school's fifth anniversary.

Olympic swimmer Cullen Jones works with a student during his visit at the Goldfish Swim School in Milford, Dec. 2, 2023.
Olympic swimmer Cullen Jones works with a student during his visit at the Goldfish Swim School in Milford, Dec. 2, 2023.

The school's goal is to help children build essential swim skills to keep them safer in and around the water. Goldfish uses a research-based philosophy that teaches through guided play while also focusing on developing real skills. Goldfish Swim School teaches students from 4 months old to 12 years.

Goldfish Swim School has 11 locations in Massachusetts, including Milford, Marlborough and Needham. For more information on its programs, visit its website or call (508) 639-1144.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Olympians Ryan Murphy, Cullen Jones stop by Milford swim school