1st Ever FHSAA Adaptive Swim Championships. Continued Advocacy For Classifications Still To Do🏊‍♂️💪

1st Ever FHSAA Adaptive Swim Championships. Continued Advocacy For Classifications Still To Do🏊‍♂️💪

Since 6th grade, my head coach and others have advocated for an adaptive division. After they were allowed to deliver a presentation to the swim committee, they agreed. Not until this year, my 9th grade year did they finally have an adaptive division during the State Series Championships only. We thought they were having classifications, so adaptive athletes would be on the same playing field with other like athletes. Four days until the State Championship, I found out all the athletes in each school classification would all be swimming together. this is not like at Track & Field were all Adaptive athletes in every school classification come together and compete in an adaptive classification so athletes are competing against other athletes with similar abilities so no one athlete has an advantage over them.

I only have the use of my arms when swimming, and I had to go up against athletes who could use all four limbs. thus, the athletes my teammate and I had to swim against had more use of their limbs than what we do.

knowing this going into the State Compatition, I just wanted to quit because I was having to swim against athletes who had the advantage over me. knowing these athletes have jad their own struggles in life reminded me that we never quit. What we do as adaptive athletes is to continue advocating for change. One day my pursuits we have lead a path for other who come after me not to have the struggles and disappointments that I have had to overcome. These are the things that make me stronger and more resilient in life.

Special thanks to my National track Coach Joey Gibbs and to Principal McLuckey for coming to encourage and supported Savannah and myself at the 1st ever FHSAA Adaptive Swim State Championships!

#advocacymatters
#spinabifidaawareness
#spinabifidastrong
#spinabifidawarrior
#chargeon
#nevergiveup
#nodisabilityinability
#roadtostate
#statebound
#standingstrong
#classificationsforadaptiveathletes
#paraathlete