Rose Bowl Aquatics Achieves USA Swimming Gold Medal Club Status

The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center on Wednesday announced the Rose Bowl Aquatics team’s official recognition as a USA Swimming Gold Medal Club in the 2023-24 Club Excellence Rankings. USA Swimming is the national governing body for the sport of swimming in the United States. 

Among over 3,000 swim clubs across the nation, Rose Bowl Aquatics secured the 14th spot in USA Swimming’s 2023-2024 Club Excellence Program, a program that identifies and recognizes USA Swimming member clubs for their commitment to performance excellence.

In another major achievement, USA Swimming has selected 19 RBAC student-athletes to the Scholastic All-America Team, ranking fourth in the nation for the most student-athletes selected.  

To qualify for the team, student-athletes are required to maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA and achieve at least a Winter Junior National time standard, which demands the dedication, hard work, and commitment of student-athletes not only in their swimming pursuits but also in their academic endeavors. 

“This achievement showcases the collective effort and empowering team culture that drives excellence in all aspects of these student-athletes’ lives,” Jimmy Francis, RBAC President and Executive Director, said. 

Francis said he credits the success of Rose Bowl Aquatics’ student-athletes to their families, teammates, and dedicated coaching staff. 

Andrew Nguyen, Head Coach of Rose Bowl Aquatics, expressed pride in the team’s pursuit of excellence and the shared vision they hold. 

“We’re committed to supporting our athletes in the pool and life,” Nguyen said. “Our dedication to core values remains steadfast, building a strong foundation for athletes, families, and coaches. Special thanks to the RBAC Executive Team, staff, and Board for their vital role in our Gold Medal recognition.” 

As a ranking program for swim clubs, Club Excellence promotes the development of strong, well-rounded age groups and senior swimming programs that produce elite 18 & under athletes. The program provides resources to motivate USA Swimming member clubs to achieve the highest athlete performance ideals, provides grant funding, and promotes the USA Swimming club development system as an integral part in achieving excellence in the sport.

As a Gold Medal Club, Rose Bowl Aquatics’s recognition is for a one-year period. The team gets a vinyl 4’ x 6’ team banner and a results announcement on USA Swimming’s website. After the rankings announcement, winning clubs may be notified of grant funding, which will be distributed in January 2024. 

Nonprofit Rose Bowl Aquatics Center is dedicated to promoting water safety, lifelong wellness, and a love for aquatic activities in diverse communities. It serves as the home of the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center Water Safety Program, providing water safety instruction to every 3rd-grade student in the Pasadena Unified School District, including those with special needs. 

With two Olympic pools, a therapy pool, conference rooms, locker rooms, a café, and an aquatics merchandise shop, the RBAC hosts world-class swim, dive, and water polo teams, along with various programs such as water aerobics, warm water exercise, lap swimming, learn-to-swim lessons, and yoga.

For more information, visit https://rosebowlaquatics.org/.