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Monday, July 18, 2011
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
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Khalik, swimmers
organize free clinic
'M' squad gives back attendance for the entirely stu-
dent-run event, the Wolverines
to aid youngsters in made technique the focal point of 4
. the clinic.
inner-city Detroit Each child was given ample
time in a small group to work-
By LIZ VUKELICH ing with a Michigan swimmer on
Daily Sports Writer each of the strokes.
But the highlight for both the
Summer training camp may attendees and instructors came
not be the usual place to have an unexpectedly at the end of the
epiphany, but that's where junior two-hour event.
Hassaan Abdel Khalik came to The Michigan students had
his realization at the end of May. planned to finish the day with a
And just a short two months relay, which acts as common con-
later, his vision of a free swim- clusion for many swim camps.
ming clinic for inner-city Detroit But then suggestions came from
children hosted by the Michigan some of the kids, who asked if,
men's swim team was finally ful- instead, they could try something
filled. they sometimes did during their
own swim practices.
Their proposal revamped the
traditional race into one unlike
"A lot of these anything the Wolverines had
seen before.
kids might not "(It was) called Monster,"
Madwed said. "The kids are run-
have that many ning, swimmingand jumping up
.u ." and down on the diving boards.
opportunities. (The team) put our trunks on and
got in the water with them. It was
a fun way to finish the day, and
there was just a great attitude all
"As a team, we had never done around. The kids were really into
that much community service it."
before," senior captain Dan Mad- As Michigan athletes, the team
wed said. "We wanted to take the recognizes the all the unique
opportunity to give back to the resources that are available to
community, and (swimming) is them for future events.
something we are all good at." The combination of both the
While in Colorado, Khalik high turnout and the high stu-
mentioned his idea to Michigan dent-athlete participation equat-
coach Mike Bottom, who in turn ed to a successful first run, and
took the idea to USA Swimming. the team believes that the clinic
By involving the national orga- has the potential to recur annu-
nization, the Michigan students ally.
no longer had to worry about the While the Wolverines would
technicalities of organizing the ideally play host more than once
clinic. a year, the high demands of their
With a location scouted out competitive season makes sum-
in Detroit, and the word spread, mer the most opportune time to
all the Wolverines had to do was hold the clinic.
come up with program of events "We are just so privileged,"
that could satisfy everyone pres- Madwed said. "A lot of these kids
ent. might not have that many oppor-
"We had kids from aged five tunities.
to 17," Madwed said. "So we had "If we made even one differ-
to find something that everyone ence, and just one of those kids
could participate in. You can't be ever came and swam for Michi-
too hard on a four year old." gan at some point in the future,
With around 50 members of then that would be fantastic. You
various Detroit swim clubs in just want to give them a chance."
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