Two local aquatic enthusiasts spent the last two weekends lifeguarding at the 2021 Team USA swim trials.
After learning about a need for volunteer lifeguards at the trails, Great Plains Family YMCA CEO Tami Kellar and her son Ryan made the trip to the Chi Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
“Because of COVID-19, the Olympic Trials this year had two waves,” Tami said. “Normally, they just have one meet and the Top 2 finishers in each event go to the Olympics. We volunteered for Wave 2 so we could see the fastest swim times.”
Because Michael Phelps was not participating in the trials as a competitor this year, Olympic hopefuls who made it past Wave 1 had to finish in the top of the category.
“We got to see the opening ceremonies, we got to see lots of fast swims and I actually was on deck with people who maybe didn’t place at the top of their event but made the team for a relay or something,” Tami said.
Ryan said his favorite part of the event was the opening ceremonies.
“They would dim the lights in the stadium and play something on the big screen about what the swimmers have gone through to get to the Olympic Trials. They also had flashing lights. I thought it was really cool,” he said.
Tami said she was hoping to see Ryan Lochte compete again after his suspension for breaking anti-doping rules. Luckily, she was in the right place at the right time.
“I wanted to see if he would make it. I was rooting for the underdog,” she said.
While Lochte didn’t qualify this year, Tami said she did get to continue observing him while he cooled down after the heat.
“It was really neat to see him in his element but also as a person,” she said. “He was disappointed but still motivated the other swimmers.”
In addition to having a front-row seat to the Olympic Trials, volunteers had all of their meals covered, T-shirts, backpacks and lifeguard gear. They also received full-access to the deck throughout the trials.
Tami, who has a passion for swimming and aquatics, was especially excited about this opportunity. She said she began swimming competitively in fifth grade and continued competing at college in California.
“I followed swimming loosely,” Tami said. “I remember seeing Summer Sanders swim at Stanford when I went to watch a friend. I’ve kind of followed it throughout my life, but it was cool to be up close and personal.”
Like his mother, Ryan also swam competitively in school and played water polo, but he never has kept up with the competitive swim world.
“On the way up she was telling me about the swimmers and what they need to do to make it to the Olympics. I wasn’t so sure about it,” he said. “I don’t know much about the popular swimmers out there.”
This was evident when Ryan was completely unaware he was sitting next to swimming legend and Olympic champion Michael Phelps, who was preparing to present an award.
Tami said lifeguards at the Olympic Trials are not meant to be seen during the competition, as they are there not so much to guard the competitors as they are to look out for the VIPs. So instead of sitting next to the pool, they are off to the side.
“Michael Phelps had to sit right next to Ryan because we were right by the podium,” she said. “Ryan didn’t even realize it. He was sitting right by Michael Phelps and was even on television.”
Tami and Ryan said they both enjoyed their experience at the trials and hope to volunteer again in 3 years.