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Athleticism on display at Lifeguard Olympics

10 beach patrols bring talents to Rehoboth Beach
Members of each beach patrol burst off the starting line during the team-oriented surf dash relay at the 41st Lifeguard Olympics held July 26 in Rehoboth Beach. PHILLIP MOORE PHOTOS
Phillip Moore
July 31, 2018
Fenwick Island Beach Patrol guard Tyler Lawson completes the paddleboard race.
Ruslan Kopunek of South Bethany Beach Patrol arrives back on the beach after the run-swim-run challenge.
Matt Taddei of Rehoboth Beach Patrol holds an American flag during a patriotic event on Rehoboth Beach.
All the guards take a quick breather before the paddleboard rescue event.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol guard and contest emcee Erik Schultz is hard at work making sure the event runs smoothly and safely.
Wit Keating of the Rehoboth Beach Patrol awaits the whistle to begin the half-mile paddle.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol guard Devin Hull muscles his way back to the beach after swimming out to the buoys and back during the surf dash relay.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol takes a moment to soak in their win in the landline competition.
Representatives from each location line up with their backs to the flags during the ever-popular beach flags competition.

Participants from 10 separate beach patrols took part in the 41st annual Lifeguard Olympics in Rehoboth Beach July 26, drawing huge crowds to watch the 11-event competition. The events are designed to showcase the pure strength, endurance and mental toughness of all guards involved. 

“The Lifeguard Olympics continues to be an exhibition of the juxtaposition of lifesaving ability and situational awareness that each and every patrol instills in their guards, as well as the intrinsic drive that pushes athletes to perform at their very best,” said Rehoboth Beach Patrol guard Erik Schultz. “Each of the 10 beach patrols select guards to battle head to head, vying for recognition and a plaque crowning the winner of the Lifeguard Olympics.”

Participating patrols included: Rehoboth Beach, Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach, Sea Colony, North and South Bethany, Middlesex, Ocean City, Md., and Delaware Seashore State Park. Guards competed in the one-mile beach run, half-mile paddle, half-mile swim, landline, run-swim-run, paddle rescue, surf dash, iron man medley, soft-sand sprint relay, beach flags and tug of war. 

Each place of each event yielded a specific amount of points that were combined at the end to determine the winner. This year’s Lifeguard Olympics champion is the Sea Colony Beach Patrol with 68 total points. Ocean City Beach Patrol finished second overall with 56 points, and event host Rehoboth Beach Patrol took third overall with 44 points. 

“Regional competitions such as the Lifeguard Olympics are a fantastic way to strengthen patrol morale, motivate guards to continue to hone their skill sets, and most importantly, showcase their highly focused discipline, passion and athleticism,” Schultz said. “Delaware’s honorable coastal patrol groups enjoy performing for the large audiences they draw during these competitions, which hopefully brings more confidence to patrons as they are sure they're in good hands on good sands.”

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