Special Olympics swimmers gave it their all this past weekend at the Special Olympics Area 10 Aquatics Competition, held at the North County Aquatic Center in Sebastian. The athletes were hoping to quality for the Special Olympics Florida 2015 State Aquatics Championship, which will also take place at the North County pool on Oct. 3 and 4.
“We had 280 athletes total over the two days, and 100 volunteers,” said Jeff Hancock, Special Olympics County Director.
“A lot of the volunteers do both Area and State, so this one is a nice run-through for them at a much smaller event,” Hancock explained. He credited the Sebastian Lions Club and the Knights of Columbus, among other local civic groups, with supplying many of the volunteers. “They’ve got it down to a science. It’s a very nice relationship we have with these groups.”
On Saturday, swimmers competed in the longer heats, from 50 meters up to an 800-meter swim, and Sunday featured the short course – 25 meters and relay – for “learn to swim” athletes.
“Gene is the boss; we do whatever he tells us to do,” said volunteer Rod Rodamer, referring to local swim coach Gene Greenberg, who recruited him a couple of years ago to help out. “It’s amazing in the last two years how much they’ve advanced. Last year some of them were afraid to even get in the water and now they’re swimming.”
That the Special Olympics athletes have improved is thanks in large part to Greenberg, who has been trying for years – unsuccessfully to the benefit of everyone else – to retire from a variety of positions.
“I’m retired from coaching the Masters. I was 80 years old; that was enough! But I’m staying with Special Olympics,” said Greenberg with a big grin.
He trains 21 of the Indian River County competitors, with help from about 15 coaches who trained with him in the U.S. Masters Swimming program at Leisure Square.
“This is our star swimmer right here,” said Greenberg, pointing to a young woman, Angel Malinos.
“I’ve always loved to swim; I just love the water,” said Malinos, who was competing in the freestyle and freestyle relay heats.
Referencing a blind young man being escorted along the side of the pool, Noreen Davis, Marketing Director at The Arc, said, “That’s Timmy Spann. When he started with us, seven years ago he was petrified of the water, and now he’s competing. Special Olympics overall is a great organization, and the guys at The Arc have totally enjoyed participating all these many years.”
