Full Breakdown
Injured U.S. Veterans Experience Therapeutic Swim with Whale Shark at Georgia Aquarium
5/9/2026, 10:32:14 PM
Therapeutic Swim Event
On a Wednesday in Atlanta, injured U.S. military veterans swam at the Georgia Aquarium under the Military Salute program. Participants snorkeled with whale shark Yushan, stingrays, and other marine animals. Yushan, rescued from a Taiwanese fish market years ago, is the only captive whale shark in the Western Hemisphere.
Program Background
The Military Salute program partners with the Wounded Warrior Project, which assists injured service members and families. Weekly sessions let armed-force members engage with marine life, providing brief relaxation and physical relief.
Key Participants
Veterans included U.S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant William Mund, wounded in Iraq, and U.S. Army Colonel Quentin Collins, paralyzed after Iraq injuries. Collins’s son, Ian, accompanied his father. Yushan, several meters long, serves as the aquarium’s flagship species for this therapeutic initiative.
Yushan’s Rescue and Captivity
Yushan was rescued from a Taiwanese fish market several years ago and subsequently transferred to the Georgia Aquarium. Aquarium officials note that Yushan remains the only whale shark held in captivity anywhere in the Western Hemisphere.
Quantitative Details
Each swim lasts about 30–40 minutes, the program runs weekly, and the highlighted session involved at least three veterans.
Significance
Aquarium staff describe the weightless environment as a temporary reduction of physical pain, noting that it can improve blood circulation and emotional well-being.
Official Statements
Georgia Aquarium officials said the swim creates a calm, supportive setting for wounded service members and reflects a weekly commitment to veteran outreach. They highlighted Yushan’s presence as a unique, low-impact interaction.
Veteran Perspectives
Veterans reported immediate physical and emotional benefits. Mund noted improved blood flow; Collins described being “pulled” by the whale shark’s wake, enabling forward movement despite paralysis. Their son, Ian, said he was pleased to see his father enjoy activities previously limited by injury.
Criticism & Opposition
The sources did not present any criticism or opposition to the program.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No conflicting reports or gaps were identified in the available coverage of the swim event.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It gives them, you know, 30 or 40 minutes to just relax,” — Jason Bush, Georgia Aquarium
- “Whether it's swimming in the water or scuba diving in particular, you're weightless,” — Jason Bush, Georgia Aquarium
- “They go in nervous and they come out saying it's the best experience they've had in their life,” — Jason Bush, Georgia Aquarium
- “Actually, its wake pulled me with it,” — Quentin Collins, U.S. Army
- “It's a wonderful thing to see my dad being able to enjoy things he couldn't anymore,” — Ian Collins, son
