Opportunities for Success
The development of a T21 Swim Warrior clearly demonstrates how high expectations can create opportunities for success. It takes extraordinary grit and athleticism for a swimmer with Down syndrome to reach elite status. It also takes a determined and supportive family who has unwavering belief in their swimmer, and sees the value of early morning swim practices, hours in the bleachers, and advocating for their child. Each T21 Swim Warrior is also blessed with a dash of luck by being taken in by a knowledgeable and inclusive swim coach. The challenge is real - but becoming a T21 Swim Warrior can have long lasting, life changing impact.
Natural Inclusion
Many T21 Swim Warriors are accepted and supported on high school, USA Swimming, and/or US Masters clubs. The open arms and creative inclusion on these local teams continue to be the X-factor for T21 Swim Warriors. Thank you to all of the coaches and teammates who continue to embrace our swimmers! Natural inclusion within the community is so important. It gives our swimmers the opportunity to live and exist as a contributing member of society while being valued for one’s abilities and uniqueness — regardless of disability. Inclusion on swim teams leads to peer support, educational opportunities, living independently, and working for fair wages. To learn more about USA Swimming or US Masters Swimming, click below.
Major Health Benefits
The health benefits of swimming competitively are indisputable. Swimming builds an athlete’s core stability through the coordination of muscle groups throughout the body. Swimming increases breath control and improves cardiovascular stamina and total body endurance. This allows a T21 Swim Warrior to live their best life by having the energy and endurance to work and play hard.
Increased Independence
Swimming competitively also provides tremendous personal growth opportunities. T21 Swim Warriors work through their individual fears and challenges not just to participate, but to compete. Risk taking requires gumption and perseverance, but it also brings great rewards. Those who succeed develop self-reliance, and a thirst for independence.
Social Skills/Teamwork
Swimming alongside typical peers creates numerous opportunities to learn. Peers are amazing teachers and T21 Swim Warriors are master mimics. They learn by watching and by doing. Just like their teammates, swimmers with Down syndrome must problem solve, deal with disappointment, cope with stress, and learn good teamwork. They must develop positive attitudes with coping strategies for pressure situations. They must have respect for others and learn ways to communicate. These are all “real-life” skills that will carry over into their daily lives.
Academic Skills/Attention to Detail
T21 Swim Warriors learn by repetition, creative coaching, and praise. They are capable of learning proper technique for all 4 strokes, diving off the block, flip turns, pull outs and other complex movements. They can improve reading and math skills as they learn to read heat sheets and coaches’ workout plans. They learn about event lengths, and must count laps, strokes, events, heats and lanes. When they see that a change in their arm positioning makes them faster in the water, it impresses on them that details matter in life. This carries forward into daily tasks such as cooking, laundry, shopping and more!
Intrinsic Motivation and Confidence
T21 Swim Warriors benefit greatly from swimming alongside “typical peers” in swim clubs across the United States. Access to a community of swimmers develops a sense of belonging, improved fitness, greater independence, better social skills, and superior technique. That combination creates an inner confidence that they can rely on themselves and that they are valued. What they earn is pride, and for a person with a disability such as Down syndrome, that is priceless.
