Swimming - World Games
Path to Para-sport competition Swimming
Did you watch the inspiring, dedicated athletes of the Paralympic Games on television and ask yourself "Can I do that?" and "What does it take to reach the elite level of the Paralympics?"
Did you watch the inspiring, dedicated athletes of the Paralympic Games on television and ask yourself "Can I do that?" and "What does it take to reach the elite level of the Paralympics?"
- Get involved in a grassroots adaptive sports organization such as DAAA. Competing as an athlete in DAAA will give you the confidence and foundation to test out different adaptive sports.
- Pick one or two sports that you have a passion in, and pursue to specialize in this sport(s).
- Train. There are many different options of training depending on where you live and your age. In large metropolitan areas you may be able to find "adaptive" teams. These are teams made up of people with varying types of disabilities. However if you are young, I would suggest joining your local USA Sports Club. EG: I belonged to a USA swim club with average stature athletes and my coach would modify the practices for me. Older individuals should pursue their local Masters program or individual coaching.
- Seek out Adaptive/Para-sport clinics. If you are serious about becoming an athlete, you will have to travel. Different organizations host clinics; Blaze Sports, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Adaptive Sports, and National Center for Disabled Sports. Clinics will keep you networking with the right coaches and provide you the skill set you need to excel.
- Know the Qualifying times/records for National games. To make the USA Para team, you have to compete at the IPC national games and qualify in the top rankings.
- Dedicate yourself to your sport, and make sure you have a passion to excel in your sport. May the best athlete qualify!
Am I Fast Enough To Succeed?
Swimming records for each age division are posted on the World Dwarf Games website under the "Sports/Rules" menu. But don't be intimidated by those times; past experience has shown that there can be a big difference in time between first and third place. Junior division swimmers will have more opportunities to win medals at the World Games than at DAAA National Games because swimmers will be divided into three classifications within each event.
How Can You Prepare?
Improve your chances of medaling by joining a swim team to access expert coaching and practice facilities. USA Swimming has hundreds of teams nationwide. Click here: USASwimming - Find a Local Club (www.usaswimming.org) to find a team where you live. Adults can check US Masters Swim - Places To Swim (www.usms.org) to find a masters swim team. Other possibilities include school, YMCA, and summer recreation teams. The attached document called "U.S. Paralympics Swimming Frequently Asked Questions" provides more information for those who wish to pursue Paralympic swimming. (http://www.2013WorldDwarfGames.org/PDF/SwimFAQ.pdf)
Where Can I Learn More About Stroke Technique?
The obvious and best answer is to ask a coach or swim instructor for help. Swim instruction is also available on the internet.
Swimming records for each age division are posted on the World Dwarf Games website under the "Sports/Rules" menu. But don't be intimidated by those times; past experience has shown that there can be a big difference in time between first and third place. Junior division swimmers will have more opportunities to win medals at the World Games than at DAAA National Games because swimmers will be divided into three classifications within each event.
How Can You Prepare?
Improve your chances of medaling by joining a swim team to access expert coaching and practice facilities. USA Swimming has hundreds of teams nationwide. Click here: USASwimming - Find a Local Club (www.usaswimming.org) to find a team where you live. Adults can check US Masters Swim - Places To Swim (www.usms.org) to find a masters swim team. Other possibilities include school, YMCA, and summer recreation teams. The attached document called "U.S. Paralympics Swimming Frequently Asked Questions" provides more information for those who wish to pursue Paralympic swimming. (http://www.2013WorldDwarfGames.org/PDF/SwimFAQ.pdf)
Where Can I Learn More About Stroke Technique?
The obvious and best answer is to ask a coach or swim instructor for help. Swim instruction is also available on the internet.
- ParalympicSport TV YouTube Channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/ ParalympicSportTV - Search for top dwarf swimmers at the 2012 London and 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, including Erin Popovich, Eleanor Simmonds, Casey Johnson, Miranda Uhl, and Matt Whorwood. Watch their races!
- SwimSmooth freestyle video - http://www.swimsmooth.com/
- On.AOL.com videos:
- freestyle - http://on.aol.com/video/how-to-swim--basicfreestyle-155898156?icid=video_related_7,
- backstroke - http://on.aol.com/video/ how-to-swim--basic-backstroke-155898212?icid=video_related_5,
- breaststroke - http://on.aol.com/video/how-to-swim--basic-breaststroke-155898176? icid=video_related_4, and
- butterfly - http://on.aol.com/video/how-to-swim--basicbutterfly-155898253
- Triathlon competitor flip turn video - http://triathlon.competitor.com/2012/08/ training/video-how-to-do-a-flip-turn_17781
- YouTube racing dive video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCsQyU4Zops