Swimmers hope to make a national splash
Special Olympians raising funds to offset costs to compete in Nova Scotia
Different divisions, different strokes, different teams.
But they have the same passion to power their way from one end of the pool to the other as fast as possible.
The same desire to do well for their province and their new and old teammates alike.
The same goal of celebrating with a gold medal on the top step of the podium at the Special Olympics National Summer Games.
Swimmers Emily Skulj, 15, of Welland, Eric Robbins, 28, of Wainfleet and Abby Barnhart, 39, of Port Colborne are all looking forward to representing Ontario at the quadrennial games taking place July 31-Aug. 4 in Antigonish, N.S.
This will be Skulj’s first trip to nationals and the second for Robbins, who won a gold medal as part of a relay team four years ago in Vancouver.
“It was very exciting and I found it was a little bit of a challenge,” he said. “It was a good meet that basically pushed me.”
“This year when I go I know what the competition is going to be like.”
Skulj, who was introduced to swimming when she was six months old, has been a member of a Special Olympics swim team since she was eight. She likes the comraderie as much as the competition and said whether she enjoys a meet doesn’t depend on whether she wins a medal.
“It’s fun hanging out with other people,” the Grade 10 student at Eastdale Secondary School. “It’s really cool that I get to do that.”
Skulj, a member of the Port Colborne Marlins swim team, Robbins and Barnhart, both members of the Port Colborne Seals, train out of the YMCA pool at Vale Centre in Port Colborne. Since clinching berths at nationals with strong performances at the Ontario qualifier, their regular training regimen has been augmented by sessions with their national coaches every Saturday in Toronto.
Coaching methods at the provincial and local level are similar, said Carol-Ann Skulj, Emily’s mother and Marlins head coach.
“We all keep in touch,” she said. “They’ll come here and watch them train here, they keep an eye on their times.”
Each swimmer is asked to raise $1,200 to offset travel and training camp costs. Donors can designate a specific athlete for their financial support or contribute to the organizations.
Donations can be made online at to the club at http://bit.ly/portcolbornesupport.
Carol-Ann Skulj said money donated to the organization will help athletes who fell short of their fundraising targets as well as support Special Olympics locally.
She pointed out since provincials and nationals are only held once every four years, “this is a big deal for these guys.
“It’s a lot like the Olympics, they do a big, huge opening ceremonies, big huge closing ceremonies,” the coach said.
“Provincials was amazing, you’re almost in tears the whole time you’re at opening ceremonies.
“It will be even better for nationals.”
In qualifying Emily Skulj was golden at the provincial championships last year in Guelph. She paced her division in three freestyle races – 25-metre, 50 m, 100 m – as well as the 25 m and 50 m breaststroke.
Robbins, for the past 13 years a member of Special Olympics swim teams, won three gold medals – 25 m, 50 m, 100 m breaststroke – and silver in 25 m freestyle at provincials.
Though they compete on different teams, Robbins has been a “wonderful mentor” to his young teammate on the provincial team.
“Eric has been a wonderful mentor for Emily giving her tips on what to expect in aspects of the Games and training,” Carol Ann Skulj said.
“His team spirit is what Special Olympics is about, and the encouragement and happiness for each others’ achievements is what these amazing athletes show for each other on a regular basis.”
‘‘ It’s a lot like the Olympics, they do a big, huge opening ceremonies. CAROL-ANN SKULJ COACH