Three-time Olympian and three-time Open Water Swimming world champion Leonie Beck has become the latest ambassador for World Aquatics’ Discover Water programme, strengthening the organisation’s global commitment to promoting water safety and encouraging greater participation in aquatic activities.
The announcement comes ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July, as World Aquatics continues its efforts to address drowning prevention and ensure that more children and communities around the world have access to essential water safety skills.
As a Discover Water Ambassador, Beck will use her experience as an elite athlete and her international platform to support the programme through community visits, educational events, conferences and social media campaigns. Her role will focus on highlighting the importance of learning to swim and helping people develop confidence in and around water.
Beck’s connection with the Discover Water initiative began in 2025, when she travelled to Malawi to participate in a training course for Country Leads from 15 African nations. During the programme, she shared her knowledge as a professional swimmer and worked with local representatives who are helping deliver water safety education in their communities.
Launched ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Discover Water is World Aquatics’ global water safety initiative designed to help children build confidence in the water through educational resources and practical learning experiences. The programme aims to provide young people with lifelong skills while promoting safe and enjoyable participation in aquatic activities.
Speaking about her new role, Beck highlighted the personal importance of water safety.
“Water has shaped my entire life. As a swimmer, I know how important it is to feel safe and confident in and around water, and how much learning to swim can give you. Water safety can be a matter of life and death, so I am proud to use my voice and platform to help bring this message to more children and communities around the world,” Beck said.
Reflecting on her experience in Malawi, the German swimmer explained that seeing different countries unite around a shared goal reinforced her decision to become an ambassador.
“The passion and knowledge in the room were incredibly inspiring, and the experience showed me how far this programme can reach through strong local leaders,” she added.
Beck also stressed that her involvement will go beyond simply representing the programme, as she hopes to play an active role in supporting communities and working directly with educators, coaches and participants.
“For me, this role is about more than lending my name to the programme. I want to be present in communities, contribute to activities on site and share my experience with those involved,” she said.
World Aquatics’ initiative forms part of the global campaign for World Drowning Prevention Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2021 to raise awareness of drowning as a preventable public health issue. More than 300,000 people lose their lives to drowning every year, with children among those most affected.
This year’s theme, “Unite to Turn the Tide,” calls on governments, educators, families and organisations to work together towards the World Health Organization’s goal of reducing drowning deaths by 35% by 2035.
With Beck joining the Discover Water programme, World Aquatics hopes her experience and influence will help inspire a new generation to understand the importance of water safety and make swimming skills accessible to communities worldwide.
