Three local swimmers are seeing their persistence and determination rewarded in the pool.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Competing in disability events across the country and the Tasman, swimmers Kelvin Giles, Teila Bulmer and Kiara Gaul have turned their disabilities into abilities.
All three train at the Great Lakes Aquatic Centre with the main squad, rating the experience high on their social calendar – competition notwithstanding.
“I don’t care if I don’t win, you can’t win all the time,” 39-year-old swimmer Kelvin Giles said to his mother Jenny recently.
Kelvin, who has cerebral palsy, has been in and out of the pool and competitions “all of his life”, according to his mother.
“They love doing this because they meet with others with similar interests. It really keeps him fit, but he likes to integrate with all the swimmers. Every time he goes back it’s like a reunion,” Jenny said.
He’s now readying himself to compete at the World Masters 2017 in New Zealand. He will seek to return with a gold to beat the two silvers he won from the same event in 2009.
He also competes in the Multiclass events held at Homebush up to four times a year and returned early this month with a personal best in 100m backstroke (2’49’84) along with four firsts in backstroke and freestyle.
Training alongside him in lanes are friends Teila, 21, and Kiara, 23, who swim with Special Olympics Hunter Valley. Teila recently returned from competing in Canberra where she was awarded two firsts in freestyle and a second in four events.
“It was pretty good apart from the cold,” she said.
She had better get used to the cold, as she is also destined for New Zealand but in November to take part in the Trans Tasman Special Olympics.
“It gives them a great outlook and a way of socialising with other kids, mixing with others in training,” Teila’s mother Jenny said.
“It’s an activity that everyone can enjoy.”
Kiara Gaul can attest to that. This year alone, she has already competed in four events across the state, from Sydney to Kurri Kurri to Kiama to Canberra. She has come away with top three placings at all events, including a personal best and recently first in freestyle in Canberra.
It’s “awesome” she smiled.