Celebrating Swimming: U.S. Olympic Swim Team & SwimWays Twitter Party!

With less than a week of the 2012 London Olympics left, my family has been tuning in to cheer on the athletes and marvel at their amazing talent in sport after sport... with swimming ranking as one of our favorites!

Whether it is synchronized, individual or relay, the U.S. Olympic Swim Team performed wonderfully, showing off their ability to glide through the water quickly and smoothly time after time. As proud as I have been watching my girls grow and excel at their own swimming progress, I can only imagine how it feels to be a parent to an Olympian and seeing them accomplish such a dream!

Which is why I knew that, after being in awe of the athletes' talents, Big Sister E and Little Sister B would be happy to write a short letter to a member of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team and tell him or her just how much we enjoyed watching them swim!

While we were inspired by each member of the team, the girls were both especially enthralled by Melissa Franklin, the 17-year-old, four-time gold medalist that took London by storm. While neither of my girls have expressed their own desire to be a future Olympian, they both agreed that watching Missy swim was motivation to gain more skills of their own.

Dear Missy Franklin,

What do you like best about swimming? We watched you swim in the Olympics and we liked it. Congratulations on winning! We think you're cool and we wish we could swim like you. We will keep practicing swimming so that we can swim fast, too.

From,
Big Sister E & Little Sister B

Pretty cute, right? If you're reading this, Missy Franklin (hey! It could happen!), we had a great time watching you and cheering you on! Thanks for inspiring my girls!

When it comes to swimming, it is clear that SwimWays is an expert in the field. Having helped kids learn to swim for over 40 years with their Swim Steps products, it is no wonder that SwimWays believes that learning to swim is an important life skill... and now you can celebrate that with them!

Join the Swimways #SwimSteps Twitter party this Thursday, August 9 at 8pm EST, where the hour-long party will include fun conversation and plenty of prizes (the grand prize package includes seven items worth $200+)!

The party, which will include water safety and Olympic swimming discussions, will feature a Q&A with Mario Vittone, a decorated rescue swimmer and member of the Coast Guard. Mario is a leading expert on immersion hypothermia, drowning, sea survival, and safety at sea, and has saved many lives in his career (check out this amazing video about saving an entire family).

If you'd like to find out more about the great Swim Steps line, be sure to connect with SwimWays on their website, Twitter and on Facebook, where you can watch this fun new 'Teach Me To Swim' video (which includes a cameo by Mario).

Then be sure to RSVP and join the #SwimSteps Twitter Party on Thursday at 8pm EST to talk all things swimming! See you there!

As a member of the SwimWays Swim Steps Ambassador Program, I am receiving product and information from SwimWays. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.