Gold Getter

Learning to swim is one of the most important skills to master, especially living in a coastal area with easy access to large bodies of water.

As the No. 1 cause of death for children under the age of four and the second-leading cause of death for children ages five to fourteen, being skilled in the water is vital to the health and well-being of everyone.

While Wilmington and the surrounding areas have many programs and opportunities to gain this foundational skill, there is always the need for more, which is why a donation by Olsen Farm was set aside for the Wilmington Aquatic Center (WAC) and ACCESS of Wilmington’s inclusive recreation center.

Organizers, who will need to secure funding and support for the 135-acre project, hope to open in 2028 in the northern part of New Hanover County.

And serving as WAC’s spokesperson is Wrightsville Beach resident KATHLEEN BAKER, an Olympic gold and silver medalist in the 2016 Olympics and four-time world record holder for the 100-meter backstroke and medley.

She was inducted into the North Carolina Swimming Hall of Fame in 2024.

And now she’s channeling her experience in the swimming world to help build support for the aquatic building, which is planned to include indoor and outdoor 50-meter Olympic-sized pools.

“Swimming for me started with a genuine obsession with the water that has never stopped, even into adulthood,” Baker says. “I started swimming sort of on a technicality; I desperately wanted to go off the diving board at our community pool, but my mom’s rule was that I had to swim the length of the pool first. I swam across that pool and never looked back.

“Two days later, I was on the summer league team, and a few years after that, I was on a club team,” she recalls. “On my year-round club, I found that I loved competing, I enjoyed the thrill of racing, and I found that it was easy to push myself doing something I loved so much.”

Originally from Winston-Salem, Baker moved to Charlotte at the age of fourteen to focus on her training.

Her love of swimming led Baker to the highest level of competition.

“Competing in the Olympics was truly a dream come true, and in a way, felt like my life’s work was completed,” says Baker, who qualified for the Olympics in Rio while she was a student at the University of California, Berkeley.

“I cannot emphasize the monumental nature of essentially achieving your life’s work at nineteen years old,” she says. “After the Olympics, I went on to win several world championships, set several American records, broke the world record for the 100 backstroke, and was top three in the world for all of my events in 2020 before the Olympics were postponed a year.”

Settling in the Wilmington area was sort of like coming home for Baker.

“I’m from Winston-Salem, but I spent the last seven years in California training and competing,” she says. “My husband, Sean, was in the Marine Corps and was stationed in Camp Lejeune after being in San Diego, and I followed shortly after. Moving here felt like coming home in a way – I love being near the ocean, and Wrightsville Beach has such a great small-town feel while still being active and vibrant. Now that Sean is out of the military, we’ve made Wrightsville Beach our home, and we can’t imagine leaving.”

In her new home base, Baker’s background also is fueling a personal business project.

“I’m launching my own swimwear line this summer, Locals Swim Co., and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with the community,” says Baker, who says she’s been working on the brand for a year. “It’s something I’m truly passionate about. As someone who has spent my whole life in swimsuits, I wanted to create stylish, high-quality suits that truly last.”

And she says getting involved in the WAC was an easy decision.

“I got involved with the project over the summer after learning about the vision behind it,” Baker says. “I quickly realized how serious and well-planned this initiative is, and I felt passionate about supporting something that not only aligns with my love for swimming but is also a major need in our community. Access to a high-quality aquatic facility can be life-changing – not just for competitive swimmers, but for kids learning water safety, adults looking to stay active, and the entire Wilmington community, as well.”

In her role now, she is helping spread awareness about the project and its impact on the community.

“My goal is to educate people on why this facility is so important and how it can benefit swimmers of all ages and skill levels,” she says. “I’m also involved in the planning process to ensure the pool is competition ready.”

The aquatic center, according to organizers, will be open to the public year-round and for swimmers “of all ages, abilities, incomes, and backgrounds to enjoy water safely,” according to the project’s website.

“Having spent my life in and around pools, I know firsthand what makes a facility great for training, racing, and community use,” Baker says. “It’s exciting to be part of a project that will provide opportunities for young swimmers, improve water safety, and create a space where people can enjoy the water in so many ways. This is something Wilmington truly needs, and I’m honored to play a role in bringing it to life.”

To view more of photographer Madeline Gray’s work, go to madelinegrayphoto.com.

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