While the Olympics in Paris might be over that doesn't end the proud Suffolk county athletes representing the United States all over the world. This past week Colin Veit of Port Jefferson represented team USA in Australia at the Lifesaving World Championships.
Veit was joined by fellow Long Islander Liam Knight of East Hampton as they went to the land down under for the lifeguarding event. The International Life Saving Federation organizes World Lifesaving Championships every two years. The 2024 Lifesaving World Championships (LWC 2024) began on August 20th and will run through September 8th, in the Gold Coast, Australia.
The pool and surf lifesaving event has two teams. The National Open team, which consists of 6 males and 6 females and the National Youth team, which has the same makeup of athletes. More than 5000 athletes and officials will be on hand.
“It is hard to believe that it’s been nearly 40 years since the Gold Coast has hosted the Lifesaving World Championships, but the wait will certainly be worth it when competition starts on Friday,” said LWC 2024 Chairman Ron Rankin AM. “The sense of camaraderie is already building as we welcome the traditional powerhouses of the sport along with developing nations where the fundamentals of lifesaving are so incredibly important.”