You may not know that George Washington was pretty well-known for his athleticism in his day.
As 6 feet 2 inches, George Washington was tall for his day. He towered over his peers. Most enjoyed reading books in the warm homes, but George loved to be outdoors in the backwoods of the Ohio Valley where he lived, making rafts out of trees with his bare hands in below-freezing temperatures, fording impossible rivers and hacking paths through dangerous woods and mountains.
George Washington had a throwing arm so good he would have been a major leaguer. And while George may have never pitched a silver dollar across the mile-wide Potomac River, he was known to have hurled a piece of slate across the Rappahannock River and also over the 215-foot natural bridge formation in Virginia.
George mastered almost every sport of his day – archery, fox hunting, wrestling, shooting pool and sword-fighting. In fact, George was so taken with sword fighting that he had a personal trainer in the sport with whom he racked up a hefty bill. George was also a big fan of swimming. With rivers and lakes nearby, this was an activity that he took part in quite often!
So next time you jump into the pool for a swim or arrive for your next swimming lesson, remember that swimming is a sport that was loved by the Father of our Country! And the next time you’re at a ballpark, remember George’s great pitching arm when you see the traditional bobble-headed president’s race around the bases at the 7th inning stretch!
Little Otter Swim School’s team members are passionate about teaching kids to swim and be safe as they enjoy the water. We’d love to share more of the benefits of learning to swim with you. Learn more about what makes Little Otter different.
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