USA Swimming News
Thursday, June 27, 2024
The Basket Carrier Program

by Bonnie Moss//Contributor
Did you think about volunteering on deck at the U.S. Olympic Team Trails - Swimming, presented by Lilly, to carry the swimmers' baskets? As fun as this opportunity can be, it takes more than just raising your hand to get in on the action.
Starting in 2023, the Center Grove Aquatic Club (CGAC) in Johnson County Indiana brought the basket carrier program to life by spreading the news to local swim clubs in the community, and from there, invitations were sent. CGAC developed an application portal aimed for coaches, teachers and local community partners in the state of Indiana to nominate two young adults who could use their leadership skills to spearhead the program. The roles required strong leadership, responsibility, a passion for swimming, and a commitment to full availability every day of Olympic Trials. The ages ranged from 13 to 18, and the most obvious task at hand would be to support the Trials athletes by carrying their baskets to and from the competition pool.
“We wanted them to show enthusiasm for the sport, and to be prepared to take the basket carrying experience back to their club or team and raise more excitement about swimming,” says Kaitlin Smith, Head Fundamental Coach of CGAC.
By February of this year, the application portal was closed and the committee chairs spent hours looking through applications and selecting nominees who demonstrated a love for the sport and how they currently impacted their program. By March, families of the selected nominees were notified that they could serve in the role as a carrier during Trials. 105 carriers were selected.
Three separate training events were provided for the carriers. In April, both the parents and the carriers met for outfitting measurements, credential pictures, general practice, team placement, leader qualities and parent education. The second training, in June, was held at Lucas Oil Stadium where the carriers toured the facility and the basket carrier area, practiced their roles, and received their outfitting collection. The final training was a TV test event and a final practice of the carriers executing their job.
All of the basket carriers are from the state of Indiana. “This group of kids is remarkable. They are extremely hard workers, passionate about the sport, want to serve their heroes well, and are excited to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity,” says Smith.
Congratulations to the following teams for representing a basket carrier at the 2024 Olympic Trials:
Archway Swim Club,
Avon Community Swim Team
Avon Swim Club
Azionaqua
Boilermaker Aquatics
Boonville Dolphins
Boys and Girls Club
Brownsburg Swim Club
Cardinal Community
Swim Club and Team
Carmel Swim Club
Cathedrial High School
Center Grove Aquatic Club
Club Olympia
Crown Point Swim Club
Donner Swim Club
Fishers Area Swim Team
Flashes Aquatics
Golden Goggles Recipient
Greenfield Central
Aquatic Club
Greenwood Swim Club
Indiana Swim Club
Jaguar Aquatic Club
Lawerence Swim Team
LOC
Michiana Marlins
Swim Club
Nobelsville Swim Club
Oak Hill Swim Club
Plainfield Community
Aquatics
Purdue Poleytechnic
High School
Riverside Aquatic Club
Riverside Aquatics
Seascope Inc.
Seymour Swim Club
Sigma Gamma Rho
Southside Indy Aquatics
Sugar Creek Swim Club
Terre Haute Torpedos
Warrior Swim Club
Washington Township
Swim Club
Yorktown Swim Club
Zionsville Swim Club
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