Join The Journey - United We Rise

USA Down Syndrome Swimming, Inc. (USADSS) is building partnerships and raising expectations for swimmers with Down syndrome, or “T21 Swim Warriors”. This 100% volunteer non-profit welcomes all swimmers with Down syndrome who want to compete at the local, national, or international level. Each personal journey is unique and is more successful when supported by a community of fellow swimmers, families and coaches. 

As more T21 Swim Warriors are being creatively included on USA club and high school teams, these athletes are rising to the occasion. They are swimming 1000’s of yards each practice and learning good technique alongside their typically developing peers. This high performance training is preparing a new generation of internationally competitive swimmers. 

For the past 20 years, the USA Down Syndrome National Swimming Team has been breaking barriers and records at the Down Syndrome International Swimming Organisation (DSISO) World Championships. In 2018, the USA National Team earned a Top 10 finish! This was a great step forward for the USA, but it was clear that other countries were leading the way with strong organizations that provided substantial training, networking, and financial support. 

USADSS was formed soon after the championship to benefit the USA national team. In 2019, nine athletes competed on the USA National Team at the 2019 European Open where the team took 3rd place. Unfortunately, the 2020 World Championship was canceled due to Covid-19. The USA also had 1 swimmer, Katya Vazhenin, compete at the 2021 European Open, where she managed to to earn 8th place in the team category! USADSS is hopeful for the the 2022 World Championship in Portugal in October of 2022.

USADSS is USA’s National Sports Organization for the Down Syndrome International Sports Organization (DSISO), and is honored to select USA’s national team. We know that to grow elite swimmers in the USA, we need more swimmers in the USA to have access to high performance training for both competitive and artistic swimming.

USA Artistic Swimming is working closely with USADSS Technical Advisor, Grasy Noriega, to create opportunities in the USA for AWD (Athletes With Disabilities). In June of 2021, the Miramar Mermaids, funded by the Down Syndrome Association of Miami, performed a breakout exhibition at the 2021 Junior National Championship! This was an amazing moment for our T21 Swim Warriors and has propelled them to practicing at a high level for the World Down Syndrome Championship.

USADSS recognizes that each individual is on a personal journey toward growth and inclusion. “JOINING THE JOURNEY” is so much more than a path to the national team. When immersed in high level training, creative inclusion, and a family of supporters, a T21 Swim Warrior grows the confidence necessary to train, travel, and compete. These inclusive adventures develop a feeling of belonging, appropriate social skills, resilience, independence, health benefits, self-advocacy and pride. All of that translates to a higher quality of life.  

In 2022, T21 Swim Warriors are once again training for the challenge of international competition. To prepare, USADSS will unite in February for the first National Training Camp for swimmers with Down syndrome. The camp is designed to be skill building, team building and dream building! USADSS knows that abstract concepts are challenging, so it has tailored this camp to the kinesthetic learner. It will include a “Dream Team” of experienced/positive coaches, immersion in a team environment, repetition, and meet experience. Competitive Swimmers will work on stroke technique, starts, turns/pull outs, and racing strategies. Artistic Swimmers will work on advanced water skills, endurance, flexibility, grace, artistry and precise timing, as well as training for exceptional breath control when upside down and underwater.

With over 40 campers attending ranging in age from 12 to 37, USADSS needed strong national team coaches. Coach Rick Klatt, USADSS Technical Advisor from Fresno, California states, “We have selected 3 experienced coaches who are people of high character who have made inclusion, team building and developing every athlete’s self esteem cornerstones of their careers. They will support every athlete attending the National Training Camp, from potential World Championship finalists to athletes whose journeys may be different, but no less important.” 

The competitive swimming camp will be run by Coach Klatt, National Team Head Coach: Colin Vidas of Oakland, Maine, Assistant Coach: Marye Carter of Alexandria, Virginia, and Assistant Coach: Theresa “T” Sorensen of Mission Viejo, California. The artistic (synchronized) swimming camp will be run by Technical Advisor: Grasy Noriega, Miramar, Florida; Guest Coach: Linda Witter of Columbus, Ohio; and National Team Coach: Isis Sanchez of Doral, Florida. At the camp, this team of professionals will begin selecting USA’s National Down Syndrome Swimming Team that will compete at the 2022 DSISO World Championship in October in Portugal.

USADSS has also elected 3 new Board Directors: Lisa Ruby, from Wilmington, North Carolina and CEO of iCan Shine; Paris Jacobs, from Vienna, Virginia of Machine Aquatics; and Dian Christensen Hillis from Fremont, Nebraska of the Michael Phelps Foundation. With this infusion of experience at every level within the world of swimming in the USA, big things are in store for USADSS. 

To learn more about how to support these amazing athletes, go to www.usadownsyndromeswimming.org , to “Gear Up” with cool merchandise, become an official partner, sign up for a newsletter, or make a donation to the national team. 

Join the Journey, United We Rise!