History of the RAA

RAA has been serving the City of Riverside and surrounding communities for over thirty-five years. RAA provides a year round program for its athletes, which has one of Southern California’s most comprehensive, professionally qualified coaching staff for both competitive swimming and water polo.

RAA was established in 1965 by a group of parents and coaches interested in promoting competitive swimming in the Riverside area. The Association is a self-supporting organization with substantial administrative responsibilities.

RAA parents and Coaching Staff are extremely proud of the accomplishments of their athletes over the years. Since our inception in 1965, RAA has represented the City of Riverside in all levels of competition producing many Olympic & Trial, World Game, Senior & Junior National, Top 16, Western Zone, and Southern California Junior Olympic athletes.

RAA has also produced many All-American, World and National Record holders, most notably World Record and 1984 Silver Olympic medalist, Cynthia “Sippy” Woodhead who today still maintains several national records and is a former holder of the American record in the 800 meter Freestyle set in 1980, and Robin Backhaus who won the Bronze medal for the butterfly in the 1972 Olympics.