Olympic Athletes Inspire Young Swimmers In Boston
BOSTON (CBS) - The summer games are splashing up dreams for some local kids. The athletes in Rio providing inspiration to young swimmers. And with American swimmers bringing home gold and breaking world records, the excitement is contagious.
That's why a swimming camp called "Olympic Dream Week" has some local young people going for their own personal best. The camp is organized by Charles River Aquatics at a Boston University pool.
"We're learning how to do some dives and freestyle," says Matthew Walsh, an 8-year-old in the program.
"In the water it feels like everything is possible because you can do whatever you want," adds 10-year-old Hyewon Suh.
"For Olympic Dream Week we are celebrating the Olympics through friendship, unity, team spirit. We talk about how much hard work it takes to get there, listening to your coach," says Jacqui Poirer of Charles River Aquatics.
With determined faces these aspiring athletes work on their entries and refine their strokes, while keeping an excited eye on Olympic swimmers like Katie Ledecky who's taking the sport to record breaking heights, and super swimmer Michael Phelps and his teammates, bringing gold back to the states.
"They're really fast and they have really good technique," says Nicholas Duran-Madore, one of the young swimmers.
"I would like to swim in the Olympics because I like to swim and I really want to have fun and get the gold," adds Matthew Walsh.
"I think they're really fast and they're really good, and I've always wanted to swim like them," says Isabel Duran-Madure, a 9-year-old swimmer.
It's even worth losing a little sleep. "I stayed up to watch the Olympics until 11," admits 9-year-old Arie Kangoun.
Some of the young people in the program are on the Charles River Aquatics swim team, others plan to try out and they're all there to have fun.