The Irvine Swim League has been a source of community pride since 1985. It was created to teach kids the fundamentals of swimming while encouraging friendly competition among Irvine villages.

“It’s special,” says Barbara Kelly, whose three adult children learned to swim with, and later coached, the Turtle Rock Tidal Wave. “To be honest, I don’t know of any other city that has this kind of opportunity for its residents.”

Several competitors have made it to Olympic trials, including Amanda Beard, who went on to become a seven-time Olympic medalist.

Learn more at IrvineSwimLeague.org.