A VIP Visitor Visits Great Neck Park District

A VIP Visitor

Tokyo Olympic Bronze Medalist Visits Parkwood Pool

Article and photos by Michele Siegel, Publicist, Great Neck Park District

Nineteen-year-old NCAA champion, World Junior champion and now Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist, Kate Douglass, offered a question-and-answer presentation at Parkwood Family Aquatic Center on Monday, Aug. 16. Kate won the bronze medal in the 200-meter individual medley, earning a spot on the podium with a personal best time of 2:09.04. The Great Neck Park District is fortunate to have had Kate’s coach, Jonah Montgomery instructing his team, Queens Aquatics, at the Parkwood Family Aquatic Center every weekday morning this summer. It was through that connection, that the Queens Aquatics swimmers were able to hear about Kate’s special life experiences as they relate to her sport. Bringing her bronze medal for everyone to examine, she answered questions, shared photo ops and signed autographs for the team members. In Tokyo, Douglass’ swim helped bolster the medal count for American swimmers, highlighted by Katie Ledecky’s gold in the 1,500-meter freestyle final. “We all feed off each other’s successes,” Douglass said to reporters following the race about Team USA’s swimming squad. “It’s just showing that there’s a great future for U.S. swimming out there.” Kate grew up in Pelham and began swimming when she was 8 yrs. old. At age 11, her training with Coach Montgomery started, along with his assistant coach, Kris Sweetman. Great Neck Park District’s Lt. Lifeguard Erick Zizic, opens up Parkwood Family Aquatic Center daily at 5:45 a.m. for the team. Dan Marsella, Great Neck Park District Aquatic Director, coordinates all of the programs and events at the pool. Douglass, was a standout swimmer in Westchester for most of her teenage years, and now swims for the University of Virginia. Front row: Kate Douglass; Back row (left to right:) Assitant coach, Kris Sweetman, Coach Johan Montgomery, Dan Marsella, and Lt. Lifeguard Erick Zizic