Challenges and camaraderie in the pool
Jeremy Price loves winning medals and making new friends through Special Olympics.
His first taste of competition in the pool was as a pupil at St Peter’s College, in swimming sports. He loved it and joined a club.
Then, around 2014, he learned about Special Olympics and joined their swimming group.
Now 16, he enjoys being in a dedicated group of athletes.
‘‘In our Manawatu team there’s about 50 or 60 - that’s just swimming. We’re the biggest New Zealand team and double anyone else.’’
Jeremy trains up to three times a week, and says swimming is a good escape from day to day challenges.
‘‘I was named ADHD autistic four or five years ago. It felt like I’m probably not going to be able to do some of the stuff I wanted to do, but now I’ve got this to do and I’m around other people that are the same. It’s pretty good.’’
Jeremy is at Freyberg High School, and has a teacher aide for some of his classes. The support helps, but school is still difficult, he said.
‘‘People are okay, but they look at this differently because none of their friends are like it, and people think you’re not normal.
‘‘Most of them hear things about [ADHD or autism] but haven’t looked into it.’’
His proudest achievements in the pool have been winning four first places at his first competition, and winning a first, second and third place in a trans-tasman competition in Hamilton in November.
Jeremy competes in lower North Island Special Olympics competitions regularly, and specialises in breast stroke, but often swims against competitors who are using other strokes.
‘‘I’ve had first, second and third at all my events for the past three years. It’s a good feeling when you get a top three placing in events, and I like getting to know other people who are like you, and being able to talk with them.’’
On the weekend, he took part in an annual regional meet, winning two golds and a silver.
Jeremy is now training for his first Special Olympics National Summer Games, to be held in Wellington, from November 27 to December 1.
"People are okay, but they look at this differently because none of their friends are like it, and people think you're not normal." Jeremy Price