With the sports world aiming for London this summer, Cayman hopes to make waves in Special Olympics.
Grand Cayman hosted an open water swimming training clinic last Friday, the first of its kind under Special Olympics International mandates. Participants engaged in a seminar at Governor’s Square and a pool session at the Lions Aquatic Centre before competing in last weekend’s Butterfield 800m open water swim on Seven Mile Beach.
Representing the international body was Kester Edwards, the Special Olympics International Sports and Competition Specialist. The Tobago native states Cayman warranted being a pioneering country.
“All of the ingredients are there for a successful event,” Edwards said. “I’m taking a lot of stuff back with me to Washington, DC (the governing body’s headquarters). This is our first open water clinic. Last year we had our first open water international event.
“We have a base group of athletes like Andrew Smilley, who is still competing with his peers at the same ability and level. There is a learning curve but it’s something I’m excited to see. I’m confident in the support here for Special Olympics and what comes out of Cayman. Once we take it to Washington, this will be the pioneering platform.”
Edwards is a former Special Olympian himself and now coordinates leadership development and education internationally. He played an integral role in open water swimming being featured at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece. Cayman’s Andrew Smilley made history by winning the 1500m event.
For the clinic, Smilley was one of four local athletes with the others being Kanza Bodden, Hamish Wood and Alec Cox from Cayman Brac. Athletes and coaches from Jamaica, Barbados, Curacao and Virginia (in the US) were also present.
All would be taught mainly by international swimming figure Steve Munatones. A frequent visitor to Cayman, Munatones is serving as a consultant/technical advisor for Special Olympics International. The Los Angeles resident demonstrated his Pool Open Water concept to participants and spoke about its importance.
“Not everyone can swim in a confident state in the sea,” Munatones said. “How can the sport of open water swimming continue to grow in the future? That’s where Pool Open Water comes in. It’s a concept for learning to swim through the pool. To simulate open water conditions, the athletes have to work around the edges of the pool.
“For the Special Olympic Games last year we had a demonstration. It has since been introduced in Portugal and New Jersey and California in the US. Eventually all Special Olympians can have the confidence to swim in the sea. It’s for people of all ages, it’s not just for young kids.
“With a lot of the world’s population out of shape, it’s also about getting people to swim, not run marathons. It can help everyone to conquer their goals of swimming.”
The clinic was endorsed by Special Olympics Cayman Islands. The group worked with the Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association to coordinate the athletes taking part in the Butterfield swim.
For SOCI chairman Nick Freeland, Special Olympics are committed to having a presence in local swimming.
“We will build on it and we’re looking forward to it,” Freeland said. “Part of Kester’s vision is for SOCI to expand to open water swimming. It’s really a tremendous opportunity and we plan to build open water swimming here at the same time.”
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