Olympic Medalist Kristy Kowal Opens Big Blue Swim School

Olympic Swimmer and Silver Medalist Opened Doors to Paoli, PA Swim School on October 9

Olympic medalist Kristy Kowal and her family officially opened their new Big Blue Swim School location in Paoli, Pennsylvania. Kowal joins Big Blue, one of the nation’s fastest-growing swim school franchises, as a franchise owner of their first Pennsylvania location. The group plans to open four additional locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Kristy Kowal won her Olympic silver medal in Sydney (2000) in the 200-meter breaststroke, and she was the first American woman to win a world championship title in the 100-meter breaststroke. In her ten years of swimming for the US Swimming National team, she broke eight American Records and one World Record.

Following her swimming career, Kowal has spent 18 years as a teacher, swim coach and mentor to athletes. Her unique method of parent education and training, seen in her popular workshop for athlete parents called “Parents in the Game,” has prepared her for her next endeavor as a Big Blue Swim School franchise owner.

“As a former Olympic swimmer, I’m so excited to turn my lifelong love for swimming into a partnership with my brother and sister-in-law,” says Kristy Kowal, Big Blue Paoli Owner. “Opening a Big Blue is an opportunity for me to share the importance of swimming as a life-saving skill while passing down my love of the water to new swimmers. Kids are inspiring, and at Big Blue, we look to create confidence both in and out of the water so they know they can achieve anything in life.”

Big Blue Swim School offers weekly, year-round 30 to 45-minute swim lessons for children beginning at just three months old, seven days a week. Level-appropriate, engaging lessons are led by professional instructors. Big Blue sets itself apart from other swim schools with 90-degree, ultra-clean water, a comfortable viewing area to watch swimmers, plenty of private changing rooms, fall-proof, anti-microbial flooring throughout the facility, free Wi-Fi and ample parking. Additionally, Big Blue’s mobile app allows parents to conveniently schedule and coordinate classes for multiple kids simultaneously and track their swimming progress.

“We’re proud to open our second location in Pennsylvania, and even more proud to have Kristy Kowal and her family join Big Blue Swim School,” says Chris DeJong, Founder and President of Big Blue Swim School. “We believe that swimming is an essential skill, and it’s an honor to have such a decorated and successful swimmer on our team. We can’t wait to see Kristy’s passion for fun and safety in the water in action.”

For more information about Big Blue Swim School, visit: https://bigblueswimschool.com/.

About Big Blue Swim School

Big Blue Swim School is one of the nation’s fastest-growing swim school franchises, offering best-in-class swim lessons for kids ages three months to 12 years. The franchise was founded in 2009 by competitive swimmer Chris DeJong, and with support from Level 5 Capital Partners, now has 29 pools open across 14 states. Big Blue continues to grow through franchising and plans to have a minimum of 380 pools sold by the end of 2024. Big Blue Swim School’s real estate expertise, strong brand, proprietary technology, and leadership support, coupled with its unparalleled consumer offerings, position its franchise partners for long-term success. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Big Blue Swim School, visit http://YourBigMomentStartsHere.com.

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