Whitworth Associate Professor of Education Tapped to Officiate at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Swimming
Lambert will be what’s called a stroke and turn official, keeping a close eye on the athletes in the water. He will ensure swims are conducted legally by observing everything, including kicks and turns.
It’s a highly coveted volunteer opportunity. Lambert is among 72 USA swimming officials selected to participate. There are about 2,500 eligible officials throughout the U.S.
Candidates must have achieved the highest level of national certification, participated in several national meets and have had positive evaluations at each of those events.
“I get the honor of serving our nation’s top athletes in this capacity, including at least four athletes from the Inland Empire who have already qualified,” Lambert says. “This is about giving back to the sport that gave me so much! I also get the best seat in the house to the fastest meet in the world!”
Lambert started swimming at age 5 and swam for local clubs in his youth and for his high school team. He swam for the Whitworth Pirates and made NAIA nationals two years in a row. After graduation, he coached for the Spokane Waves. He later coached the Lynden Christian boys swim team in Lynden, Wash. He currently officiates during the Pirates home swim meets and has also officiated at the Northwest Conference (NWC) championships.
Lambert has served Inland Empire Swimming as admin vice chair, as general chair and currently as the officials chair. Two years ago, Inland Empire awarded him with a lifetime membership to USA Swimming and named him Official of the Year.
Although Lambert will not be heading to Paris for the Olympics, he has been on deck with the two U.S. representatives who will be going and who served as his mentors.
“We have some of the best officials in the country in the Inland Empire, some of whom have had their moment on this stage, as well as the Olympic stage,” Lambert continues. “I’m not the first from our area, and if I’m doing my job right and mentoring others, I won’t be the last!”
The meet will be held June 15-23. The preliminaries will air on the Peacock Network. The finals will air on NBC.
About Whitworth University:
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of about 2,500 students, offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Trisha Coder, director of media relations, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu.
