Courtesy: United States Lifesaving Association (USLA)
Virginia Beach, Va. (August 2, 2023) — The United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) National Lifeguard Championships will descend on Virginia Beach with hundreds of lifeguards and junior lifeguards from across the country competing for individual and team honors, Wednesday, August 9 through Saturday, August 12.
The USLA National Championships, which have taken place every year except for 2020 since 1980, returns to Virginia Beach after last hosting the event in 2019. Virginia Beach was also the site of the 2018, 2014 and 2005 USLA Nationals.
Professional Lifeguards ranging in ages from 16 to 80 and Junior Lifeguards from ages nine to 15 will compete in water and beach course events that challenge their lifesaving skills in a myriad of events from surf swims to beach runs; rescue boards to surf boats. A few of the highlights include the Landline Rescue Race, Ironman and Ironwoman events, and the fan-favorite Beach Flags event which will be contested under the lights on 24th Street in front of the Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum Friday night, August 11, in front of what is sure to be a boisterous crowd.
“The USLA is proud to bring together the nation’s best in lifesaving for what promises to be another exciting National Championship event in Virginia Beach,” said Ed Zebrowski III, Lifesaving Sport Chair for the USLA. “I encourage all beach visitors to come see firsthand the skill and conditioning it takes to save lives year-round in our waters nationwide. These lifeguards are dedicated in their training, not just for the competition but to also be able to protect and serve their fellow beachgoers.”
Competitors at this year’s Nationals will be chasing the 2022 defending champions from the powerhouse LA County Surf Lifesaving Association, who has won the overall team championship 33 out of the past 35 years the competition has taken place. The defending individual champions are Thomas O’Neill from Riis Park, N.Y. on the men’s side and two-time defending champion Casey Francis from Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue on the women’s side.
Admission is free for the annual competition, which will take place between 23rd and 26th Streets in Virginia Beach. All competitions begin at 7 a.m. and run until the end of the day. A full schedule of events is available to view HERE. The USLA and the Virginia Beach Lifeguard Association in conjunction with the City of Virginia Beach are coordinating the competition, which is sponsored by Jersey Mike’s.
The men and women will compete over three days from Thursday, August 10 to Saturday, August 12 in various events. The Junior Guards are participants in programs conducted by local lifeguard agencies affiliated with the USLA and represent the future lifeguards for cities and counties. The Junior Lifeguard competition as well as the Under-19 competition will take place on Wednesday, August 9.
The Junior Lifeguard competition will involve three divisions – A Division for 14 and 15-year-olds, B Division for 12 and 13-year-olds and the C Division for 9 through 11 years of age. The Under-19 competition will be comprised of both junior and professional lifeguards ages 14 through 18.
Good luck to all the competitors!!’
Thanks for the coverage Swim Swam – a lot of swimmers you cover spend their summers and beyond protecting visitors on beaches around the country. If you ever want to see what it looks like to have 32 swimmers in a 400m freestyle heat without lane lines – come on down!