ATLANTA (WLS) — Long before Maritza McClendon stood on an Olympic podium, her path to swimming began as a child in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Diagnosed with scoliosis at age 6, she was encouraged by doctors to try swimming as therapy. What started as a medical recommendation quickly became a passion that would ultimately help her make history as the first Black woman to qualify for a U.S. Olympic swim team.
Under the guidance of Olympic coach Peter Banks, McClendon spent more than 15 years training, racing and rising through the sport. Her breakthrough came in 2004, when she earned a spot on Team USA and went on to win a silver medal at the Athens Olympic Games. Today, she continues to use that achievement as a platform, speaking with children and families nationwide about water safety, swim education and the need to dismantle racial barriers in aquatics.
McClendon is now bringing that mission to Chicago as part of the Chicago River Swim on September 20. The event will draw hundreds of athletes to the city’s riverfront, with participants taking to the water to raise money for ALS research.
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“I’m super excited to join the Chicago River Swim,” McClendon said. “I hope people will take away the power of how a community can come together for a great cause.”
Learn more about the Chicago River Swim by visiting: https://www.chicagoriverswim.org/
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