Lafayette Hill’s Reece Whitley Named 2018 Young Futurist by The Root

Lafayette Hill’s Reece Whitley, a high school swimmer at Penn Charter, was named a 2018 Young Futurist by The Root. From the Root on what being a futurist means:

The 25 people who make up this year’s list of Young Futurists also are not content to let adults determine their future. Since 2011, The Root has proudly honored the best and brightest African Americans between the ages of 15 and 22, the brilliant and inspirational leaders who are already charting their own paths in the worlds of business, science and tech, the arts, social justice and the environment. At a time when there is a void in leadership in Washington, D.C., and beyond, these Young Futurists are stepping up to show the world that, regardless of their age, they are ready and willing to lead the way.

From the profile of Whitley:

Reece Whitley is making big waves. The 18-year-old high school senior won three silver medals in swimming at the World Junior Championships—and was named one of five captains on the U.S. World Junior Team.

He has Olympic gold medalists rooting him on and already declaring that he’s a swimmer to keep your eyes on. Rowdy Gaines, the three-time Olympic gold medalist, told the New York Times that he’s going to be the “best breaststroker in the world.”

At the 2017 World Junior Championships, Reece won silver medals in the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke—and in both races he hit a personal-best record. Reece also helped his team rally to win silver in the 400-mixed medley relay. When he was just 13, he was already smashing records in his age group, the Washington Post reports. In 2015, he was named Sports Kid of the Year by Sports Illustrated.

Read the entire article here.

Photo: The Root