VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. ( WAVY ) — Lifeguards in Virginia Beach protect beachgoers and keep them safe while they enjoy the sand and surf, and one of them is using her experience in saving a life by representing the United States in the 2024 Lifesaving World Championships .
The competition is taking place in Australia. One of the 12 competitors for Team USA is Samantha Tadder, who hopes to return to Virginia Beach with a medal.
“It’s happening in the Gold Coast of Australia, and it’s really cool,” Tadder told Nexstar’s WAVY. “About 30 to 40 countries get to compete there, and there’s two days of pool events and two days of beach events.”
Tadder has been a lifeguard in Virginia Beach for five years. She recently put her training to the test when she saved a life in July.
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“It is the coolest thing I’ve gotten to do,” Tadder said. “It’s always been my dream to get to represent the U.S. internationally, and getting to do surf lifesaving is my opportunity to do that.”