Our Olympic and Paralympic Athlete Ambassadors
We have the committed support from local and regional former Aquatics Olympic Athletes. Their success started at a young age and they believe access to public aquatics facilities can give many in our community a platform for success in life.
Lisa Kempf (Geary)
1976 Canadian Olympian, 800m Freestyle
Lisa has been a strong advocate for SPLASHForward and has provided leadership in cultivating our Olympic Athlete Ambassador support.
Tom Malchow
Three-time Olympian (1996, 2000, 2004), Gold and Silver medalist 200m Butterfly, former world record-holder (2000), and a twelve year member of the US National Swim Team.
Justin Fleming
Paralympian (Athens 2004), 400 Free and 100m Butterfly. American record holder in 50yd and 100yd Free in the S8 classification. Pan American record in the long course 200 Free. 3 years on the US Paralympic National Team (2005 – 2007)
Margaret Hoelzer
2004, 2008 Olympian, 100 Back (Bronze), 200 Back (Silver), 4×100 Medley Relay (Silver)
Megan Jendrick
Three-time Olympian (1996, 2000, 2004), Gold and Silver medalist 200m Butterfly, former world record-holder (2000), and a twelve year member of the US National Swim Team.
Rick Colella
1972, 1976 Olympian, Bronze Medalist, 200M Breaststroke
Masters champion 100 IM, 100 Free and National record holder 100 IM
*NEW* – FINA World Record holder 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m Freestyle in the 70-74 age group (2022)
Rick answered a few questions on his recent WORLD record setting swims.
Charlotte Davis
The first U.S. Olympic synchronized swimming coach, developed the U.S. Olympic synchronized program from 1979 to 2000. Lead synchronized swimmers to two golds in 1984, gold solo and duet in 1988 and silver solo and duet in 1992. Accomplished Masters swimmer holding many national age group records.
Chris Chalmers
1988 Canadian Olympian, 1500 freestyle
Nathan O'Brian
2004 Canadian Olympian, 200 Back, 200 Fly
Vivien Lu
2000 Chinese Olympian, 5x FINA World Champion Gold Medalist, 100 Back
Messages from
Margaret Hoelzer & Tom Malchow
Our High School and Elementary School Ambassadors
Our high school and elementary school ambassadors are individuals with both vision and passion to make our communities safer, happier, and healthier in and around the water. They have taken individual actions to make their voices heard, make changes in their schools and community, and are strong advocates more aquatic facilities for all kids.
If you would like to become an ambassador, contact us!
Vinny Falcone
3rd Grader at Thoreau Elementary
Kirkland WA
For a school project Vinny was asked what would be the one thing he would change in his community. Vinny chose adding a community aquatic center. He then sent a letter to the Kirkland City Council advocating for a new community aquatic center.
Madeline Wood
11th grader, Juanita High School
Kirkland, WA
Girl Scout Ambassador
Madeline has chosen Water Safety Education for her Gold Award project. She is creating a water-safety pilot program at Thoreau Elementary focusing on water safety education in and around the water. She hopes it will be adopted by other LWSD schools.
We live in an area with so much water, and I believe that it’s important to know what to do when someone is in a dangerous situation, and how to prevent a tragedy like drowning from happening.