Baltimore Swim Coach Promotes Water Safety for All Ages

BALTIMORE, Md. — A local swim program is dedicated to ensuring that water safety is a skill available to everyone, regardless of age or ability.

Founded by swim coach Danny Russell, R-Trainers provides lessons at various pools throughout the Baltimore area, with a mission centered around the concept that 'water is wellness.' Russell emphasizes the necessity of swimming skills for both young people and adults, noting that many in the community lack this vital ability.

Having grown up swimming and competing at Coppin State, Russell began offering swim lessons during the pandemic. The increasing demand led him to launch R-Trainers as a specialized program.

“It’s inspiring to see individuals who initially come in without any swimming skills, often sharing stories of past traumas related to water, transform into confident swimmers,” Russell remarked.

R-Trainers offers a variety of classes, including private lessons, parent-child sessions, adaptive swim, sensory swim, and lifeguard certification, all priced at $25 per session, with discounts for siblings available. Russell aims to make swimming lessons affordable for families, regardless of size.

“Our goal is to teach swimming to anyone from six months to over sixty years old,” he stated.

In addition to his work with R-Trainers, Russell serves on the board for Diversity in Aquatics, promoting swimming programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). His own swimming career at Coppin State was cut short due to funding cuts, motivating him to support future generations.

Among the junior instructors at R-Trainers is Justice Riggins, who aspires to become a lifeguard. “When I’m in the water, I feel like I’m in my safe space,” she shared.

Many participants, like Zara Armstrong and Heru Broughton Easterling, have also shared their transformative experiences, moving from fear of water to participating in swim teams.

Broughton Easterling encourages others who may be hesitant about swimming to take the plunge: “You should just try and hop in. You only live once.”

For those interested in swim lessons through R-Trainers, more information is available on their website.

Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).