Bode Miller’s continued passion for water safety is one of the many ways he tries to process his daughter’s tragic drowning.
“I don’t think it really necessarily heals, or it doesn’t really go away. It just normalizes to a degree,” Miller, 47, exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday, May 13, while partnering with Coverstar automatic pool covers. “It definitely is important, and it’s a way of honoring her as well — her sort of loss or sacrifices to try to prevent it from happening more.”
In 2018, Miller’s life was changed forever when his 19-month-old daughter, Emmy, accidentally drowned in a pool in the neighborhood of Coto de Caza, California.
Since then, the Olympic skier has used his platform to ensure backyard swimming pools across the country are as safe as possible for kids of all ages.
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“After losing a child, there are things I wish I’d known before,” he explained. “Partly to honor [Emmy]…it makes me feel compelled to share it with people so that they have the information, they know how to prioritize water safety.”
According to Miller, the No. 1 cause of accidental death for kids under 4 is drowning. Before Emmy’s death, the gold medalist admits pool safety wasn’t at the front of his mind and other friends.
“The fact that the conversation had never come up at pediatrician visits or any other time really was really frustrating after the tragedy,” he explained. “I think those statistics really drive home the importance of making sure that your kids have a healthy respect for water. You want ’em to enjoy it. It’s awesome, and you don’t want to take anything away from that. But you just want to build that culture of respect and awareness around how to interact with it.”
As Miller continues to raise five other children with wife Morgan, he can’t help but also reflect on how his parenting journey has changed after the death of Emmy.
While his kids continue pursuing sports and other passions, the skier is grateful for every memory he experiences – even if it’s as simple as jumping on the trampoline at home.
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“It sort of puts a different perspective on your priorities and gives you that extra level of motivation to commit the time, spend one-on-one time and really kind of be involved,” he shared. “After the loss, I get my ass up and go do that stuff, and I think that’s been a real gift.”
He also promises to continue educating families about the importance of being safe near water. The Special Forces alum urges people to visit Coverstar’s website during Water Safety Awareness Month to receive educational materials and learn about innovative products like automatic pool coolers.
“Make it a conversation you have with friends and families when your kids are going to other people’s houses,” he said. “Water is always going to be out there, so you just want to try to make it kind of a bigger priority in terms of the conversation and awareness around where the risks are and how to help keep people safe.”
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