Swim With Mike Breaks More Records

For a second straight year, Swim With Mike set a fundraising record. Saturday's event easily cleared $1.2 million, with proceeds going to scholarships for athletes who have become physically challenged. Temperature hovered around 90 degrees, so it was no wonder they set an attendance record. Scholarship recipients from as far away as Texas, Stanford and Syracuse were on hand.

The organization was founded in 1981 when USC swimmer Mike Nyeholt broke his neck in an accident. What started as a fundraiser for one man turned into a program that is funding 27 scholarships this year alone. The latest recipient is an LAPD officer who was shot in the line of duty.

Saturday's festivities were highlighted by relay races with the USC football team pushing Song Girls across the pool. In case you were wondering why Pete Carroll can recruit anybody he wants, temperatures in the Midwest dipped into the 30s while his players were doing this to cool off from practice:

More pictures and an interview with Mike himself are after the jump. Remember that you can donate to the cause year-round at SwimWithMike.org.

LAT: Is today different than previous years?

Mike: It's just another great day of Swim with Mike! I think what's different is that there are so many people here today, I think it's a lot more than we've ever had before. So many different groups are down here supporting the event. It's thrilling that the student body gets so behind this thing. I go into basketball games and run into kids, and they go "Hey! You're that Mike guy!"

LAT: What's your favorite part of doing this event?

Mike: Obviously the 27 recipients on scholarship [at 15 universities outside of USC and 12 here at USC]. The thing that makes me proud is that the people that come here keep coming back. They realize what a tremendous event it is and how important it is to support these kids. Their lives change dramatically when they have accidents. You not only have to deal with the physical nature, but the emotional -- the mental strain. You don't know how people are going to accept you. You don't know how you're going to get from one day to the next for a while. It's neat that everyone around here seems to embrace it. For me, when I broke my neck, I was afraid of going out. You do, and you have to, but you're always apprehensive about how you're going to be accepted. All of a sudden you're different. But it happens ... people know what it's all about, they're accepting and they're helpful.

LAT: Do you get in the pool yourself?

Mike: Ever year here! I swam 100 lengths this morning ... with John Nabors, the former Olympic champion. We swam together at 'SC. He happened to be in the water. I get here a little before 8 o'clock. The first thing I like to do is get my swimming out of the way so I can talk to people and take pictures! I love being down here.