One of Roquan Smith's favorite sayings is "chin up, chest out." It's a reference to taking on challenges head-on, without fear or regrets.
In the pool at Loyola College's aquatics center Tuesday afternoon, that saying took on figurative and literal meaning for Smith.
It may seem odd that one of the NFL's toughest guys and a three-time All-Pro linebacker doesn't know how to swim. But growing up in rural Montezuma, Ga., Smith didn't have those resources at his fingertips.
So, as many of his teammates did cannonballs off the high dive and raced each other across the pool, Smith waded in the shallow end as an eager student. Who better to teach him than the best swimmer of all time, 23-time gold medalist Michael Phelps, and his foundation?
Smith got lessons on how to float on his back. He learned how to kick his feet properly. He practiced holding his breath under water with teammates. He was all ears, taking the lessons and applying them, just as he does on the football field.
"I'm the type of swimmer that if I have to swim less than 20 yards, I could survive somehow because I could doggy paddle," Smith said. "But as far as actually swimming and knowing how to breathe and things of that nature, honestly, it was my first time. It was really cool. It was really solid, some of the lessons they gave me. I feel a little more confident."
Building confidence in water is exactly the mission of the Michael Phelps Foundation, both with youth and adults.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 5-14. The CDC reported last year that drowning deaths are on the rise in the United States. Part of the reason is because almost 40 million adults (15.4%) do not know how to swim, and over half (54.7%) have never taken a swimming lesson.
"Thank you guys for taking this step and being vulnerable," Phelps told the Ravens. "I know not all of you do know how to swim. So, I thank you so much. This whole city, you know, looks up to every single one of you. You guys getting into the water to do this could potentially save and change somebody else's life in a positive way."
Along with Smith and several other Ravens players, eight kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore joined to learn how to swim. Pools are not always accessible to every corner of communities, which is why Phelps' foundation partners with Boys and Girls Club of America, Special Olympics International, and a coalition of other partners.
"This is a great opportunity for the kids we serve to learn how to swim from one of the greatest of all time, Michael Phelps, but also Ravens players as well. It's great for them to be able to see that they can learn from folks like that," said Andre Fountain, the Director of External Affairs & Strategic Initiatives.
Smith's hometown of Montezuma has a population of less than 3,000 people and a median income below $24,000. Smith was content with what he had, but there wasn't a ton.
Being a Baltimore native and huge Ravens fan, Phelps was thrilled to give back to his hometown and favorite team. But his foundation reached a kid from rural Georgia on Tuesday, and could have a far-reaching impact that the Ravens helped support with a $100,000 donation.
"It's awesome what his foundation focuses on – saving lives, mental health, and things of that nature. It's major," Smith said. "Hats off to him, and I'm just grateful I was able to be in there and take something from his team. Obviously, he's a living legend."
