Swimming in the USA

 
 
 

Opportunities in Competitive Swimming Lead to Inclusion in Life!

Becoming a T21 Swim Warrior starts with learning proper technique, training hard, and competing at the local level. Creative and inclusive swimming coaches are the “X-Factor” for T21 Swim Warriors. These amazing coaches are patient and creative while holding swimmers with Down syndrome to high standards. Thank you to all of those who support our athletes!

If families or coaches are struggling to include a swimmer with Down syndrome, or if you just have a question, contact the USADSS Technical Advisor, Coach Rick Klatt. He is very responsive and more than happy to assist however he can.

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Rick Klatt

Tech Advisor

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Grasy Noriega

Tech Advisor

Helpful Links for Swimming within the USA

Many athletes with Down syndrome all over America swim with Special Olympics, local high school, USA Swimming, US Masters, and YMCA swim clubs. USADSS can help navigate the world of competitive swimming, and advocate for athletes with Down syndrome to become more included at local, national, and international levels.

How do I Find a Local Swimming Club for Competitions?

USA Swimming is the national governing body for competitive swimming in the United States. While most clubs target swimmers who ages 8-18, USA Swimming clubs and meets have been extremely accepting of athletes with disabilities who are over 18 years old. USA Swimming Meets often offer an “open” category, and swimmers compete based on age.

US Masters is a nonprofit membership national governing body for masters swimming, an organized program of swimming for adults. T21 Swim Warriors have been welcomed on teams and at swimming meets all over the United States. Swimmers compete based on qualifying times, rather than age or gender.

USA Artistic Swimming is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for the sport. It organizes, participates in, and promotes a variety of competitive events each year. USA Artistic Swimming has been extremely supportive of artistic swimmers who have a disability.

 

Special Olympics is a Great Place to Start

Many people with disabilities, including swimmers with Down syndrome, begin competing in Special Olympics swim meets. It is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities.

It’s mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

What if I am just learning to swim?

If a swimmer is new to swimming, we recommend finding a local Red Cross Water Safety Instructor to learn the basics. Many community centers and YMCA’s offer fantastic opportunities to learn to swim.

The Y in America is part of the worldwide youth organization YMCA. It has 2,700 separate organizations with 10,000 branches working with 21 million men, women and children, to "strengthen communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Some local YMCA’s offer swim lessons and swim clubs.

If you need or want specialized training from WSI’s trained in Adaptive Aquatics, check out iCan Shine’s “iCan Swim” camps! They have wonderful instructors who can help a swimmer with Down syndrome learn to swim. They can also help an older swimmer unlearn poor swimming technique.