300 Swimmers Break Guinness World Record at Rose Bowl Aquatics Center

[Updated]  More than 300 swimmers — 319 to be exact — helped the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center Friday break a Guinness World Record for the largest aqua-aerobics class ever held in one pool. The previous record was 270 participants. 

The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center’s “Pool Together Fest” kicked off this year’s annual fundraising campaign for the non-profit organization. 

Led by DJ Lady C, and half a dozen aerobics instructors, with lifeguards keeping watch, the participants moved through a standard aqua aerobics class in shallow water and deep water for the required 30 minutes. 

A host of community representatives were also on hand to act as stewards and assist officials from the Guinness World Records organization in providing independent verification that all guidelines had been followed for official certification.

With Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo running late, Em Schulz, Producer and Co-host of the true-crime podcast “And That’s Why We Drink,” stepped in to fill a steward role, along with Pasadena District 1 Councilmember Tyron Hampton; Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin; Kidspace President Lisa Clements;  Chemonics Global Health Manager Allison Goforth; Director of Community Services, for the City of San Marino, Cathi Johnson; Surgical Oncologist and City of Hope Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vijay Trisal.

Pasadena Design Commissioner Srinivas Rao and local community member Nilaya Trisal served as Guinness World record attempt timekeepers. 

Ryan Hairapetian, California State University, Northridge Aquatics Coordinator; and Gretchen Esparza, City of Pasadena Aquatics Supervisor, were the Guinness World Record attempt witnesses.

The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center is a self-sustaining non-profit organization that offers aquatics programming and water safety education. Approximately $20,000 was raised by participants on Friday, while organizers said they hoped to double that amount by the end of the evening.