Aquatics

Special Olympics aquatics and swimming is popular world wide. The first-ever Special Olympics World Aquatics Invitational was held in 2012, and athletes with intellectual disabilities world wide are looking forward to their next regional games in 2013. Stay up to date with aquatics news, events and competition results on this page. You'll find links to coaching resources, too. It's all here.


00x200 Unified Sports Aquatics

Aquatics image caption

Swimming is one of the most popular sports in world. Unlike other sports, swimming is a life skill that is taught, first, to ensure safety and, secondly, for sports and competition purposes. Aquatics covers a great variety of swimming skills, from short sprints to longer events and relays. And the Aquatics coaching guide, see below, gives coaches advice and approaches to successfully coach swimmers of all abilities, from strong, fast competitors to swimmers who find it hard to swim at all.


News and Stories


septembre 21, 2012 | Latin America: Puerto Rico

Healthy Athletes - FUNFitness Event during the World Aquatics at San Juan, Puerto Rico

By Neysha Miranda

FUNFitness volunteers

The last Saturday, September 15, 2012 during the World Aquatics at San Juan Puerto Rico, the ClinicaView Story Last Saturday, September 15, 2012 during the World Aquatics at San Juan Puerto Rico, the Clinical Director, Dr. Neysha Miranda with a team of 107 professionals (physiotherapists, assistant of physiotherapists, and students of physical therapy) screened more than 2oo athletes in the FUNfitness clinic at the 1rst World Aquatics in San Juan Puerto Rico. FUNfitness is part of Healthy Athletes, and it aims to screen flexibility, functional strength, balance and aerobic condition;educate athletes, families and coaches about how to improve function and performance, and provide a hands-on opportunity for athletes to learn about physical therapy and its role in fitness. All athletes receive educational resources at each screening, including an “Athlete Scorecard” tailored to improve flexibility, strength, balance and aerobic fitness for each individual screened.

About Neysha Miranda:I'm the Clinical Director of FUNfitness SO Puerto Rico, and Latin America Regional Clinical Advisor.
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septembre 20, 2012 | North America: Virginia

Quel moment!

By Will Schermerhorn

Rose attend que sa partenaire de relais touche le mur.

 
J'étais près de la piscine à Puerto Rico, et je prenais des photos tout en regardant les nageurs qui s'efforçaient, et faisaient les courses de natation avec succès, et des fois devenaient excités en montrant leur déception.
View Story Je prenais des photos au bord de la piscine à Porto Rico, et je regardais les nageurs faire de leur mieux, faire la course, réussir, s’enthousiasmer et montrer leur déception. C'était un mélange d'émotions pour les nageurs, mais pas tellement pour moi - j'étais plus occupé par les détails du cadrage, des angles et de l’instant à capturer. Mais quand j'ai vu l’athlète de Virginie Rose Pleskow de Special Olympics Virginia se mettre en place au départ, pour attendre que sa partenaire de relais touche le mur, mes yeux ont commencé à piquer et j'ai senti une vague d'émotion. Sa partenaire de relais était Susan, sa mère. Je me suis dit que seul lors d’un événement de Special Olympics, une mère et sa fille pouvaient faire équipe ensemble à une compétition internationale de natation. Elles étaient dans le feu de l’action, nageant avec courage, en unissant la force de leurs bras, leurs jambes et leurs poumons, et elles faisaient tous ces efforts en tant que co-équipières. Il y a quelque chose de fondamentalement grandiose dans cela. C'est ce qu'on appelle Sports Unifiés, une initiative de Special Olympics qui permet de réunir des personnes avec et sans déficience intellectuelle. Qui d’autre dans le monde peut éprouver autant d’empathie qu’une mère pour sa fille : Rose et Susan forment certainement une équipe naturelle. En tout cas, quel moment !

About Will Schermerhorn:Je suis photographe et directeur du web Special Olympics. Mon fils Mason est un athlète Special Olympics. Mon fils, Mason est athlète Special Olympics.
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septembre 19, 2012 | Asia Pacific: Bharat (India)

Un autre objectif atteint

By Ashok Baride

Voici mon fils Sahil.

Sahil Baride knows what it takes to make a true athlete. Dedication. Sacrifice. Guts. Humility. He hView Story Sahil Baride connaît les efforts nécessaires pour devenir un vrai athlète.Dévouement.Sacrifice.Courage.Humilité.Il a tout ça et même plus. Sahil s’entraîne pendant des heures, il transpire de fatigue et il reprend son souffle avant de replonger dans l'eau. Il n’a qu’une idée en tête quand il fait tous ses efforts : rapporter une médaille à la maison et rendre ses parents fiers de lui. Pour Sahil, le rêve est devenu réalité quand il a été sélectionné dans l’équipe indienne de natation pour la rencontre internationale de natation des Special Olympics à Porto Rico. C’était une chance unique et un honneur de représenter l’Inde, il l’a fait grâce à sa volonté et à ses efforts personnels. Pour nous, ses parents, l’occasion a été encore plus spéciale. Dans un monde où les stéréotypes et les mots cruels tombent trop souvent dans ​​les oreilles des enfants touchés par des handicaps, la chance de briller n'est jamais tenue pour acquise. Comme ses co-équipiers, Sahil a refusé que son handicap prenne le dessus sur lui. Il a accepté sa trisomie et en tire le meilleur parti. Il a développé des compétences physiques et sociales en essayant la musique, la danse, le théâtre, le sport et la randonnée. Aujourd’hui, Sahil fait une formation en 5 ans d’hôtellerie et de restauration. Comme tout adolescent, il cherche à avoir des petites amies, il passe des heures à jouer à l’ordinateur ou il regarde des films et des clips pour imiter les pas de danse. Il rêve de jouer dans un film ou de rencontrer sa star de cinéma préférée. Son objectif est d’être Chef dans un hôtel 5 étoiles. « Les enfants comme Sahil ont peut-être un chromosome en plus, mais cela ne les empêche pas de faire la plupart des choses. Ils secouent ce chromosome supplémentaire » dit la mère de Sahil fièrement.

About Ashok Baride:Je suis le parent d'un athlète Special Olympics.
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Upcoming Aquatics Events


Date

Event

Location

juin 28 - janv. 30 2013

Ohio Summer Games

Join us June June 28 - 30 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 2600 athletes will compete in aquatics, athletics (track and field), bocce, bowling, cycling, gymnastics, power lifting, roller skating, soccer, tennis, and volleyball.
For more information
More Details
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The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio
UNITED STATES

juin 28 - 30 2013

Swimming & Open Water Coaches Seminar

Join us and support our Special Olympics Program 28-30 June for the Swimming & Open Water Coaches Seminar in Utrecht, Netherlands. Please contact Kester Edwards (contact info below) for event details.
For more information
Kester Edwards
Email:kedwards@specialolympics.org
Phone:(202) 824-0366
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ZeistUtrecht
NETHERLANDS

juin 28 - 30 2013

Northern California Summer Games

Join us June 28-30 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 900 athletes will compete in aquatics, bocce, tennis and track & field.
For more information
More Details
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Davis, California
UNITED STATES

juin 28 - 29 2013

Idaho Summer Games

Join us June 28-29 during our Summer Games event. Approximately 900 athletes will compete in aquatics, basketball, cycling, powerlifting and track & field.
For more information
More Details
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Boise
Boise, Idaho
UNITED STATES

juillet 07, 2013

Area 7 Aquatics Competition

Area aquatics competition featuring Special Olympics Texas athletes from Area 7. The Area Aquatics Competition will be held on Saturday, July 20th, 2013 at the Palestine YMCA. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. with Opening Ceremonies at 9:00 a.m. Competition will follow and concludes by 3:00 p.m.
For more information
More Details
Norm Arias
Email:narias@sotx.org
Phone:936-639-1755
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YMCA of Palestine
5500 North Loop 256

Palestine, Texas
UNITED STATES

août 23, 2013

Open Water Swimming Competition

Join us at Lago de Coatepeque in Santa Ana, El Salvador on 23 August from 8am-1pm for an exciting day of open water swimming competition. Special Olympics athletes will show their skill while competing in the open water.
For more information
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Lago de CoatepequeSanta Ana
EL SALVADOR

août 28 - janv. 9 2013

Great Britain Summer Games

The 9th National Summer Games will be held in the city of Bath from 28 August to 01 September. Over 1,700 athletes will be competing in athletics, badminton, bocce, bowls (short mat carpet bowls), football, golf, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, table tennis, ten pin bowling, tennis and swimming.
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University of Bath
Bath, Claverton Down
UNITED KINGDOM

octobre 25, 2013

Swimming Championship

Join us at Serge Alfred Swimming Pool in Beau Basin, Mauritius on 25 October for a day of exciting swimming competition. Special Olympics athletes will show their skill and courage while competing in various swimming events. Please contact Mr. Satya Chytun (contact info below) for event details.
For more information
Mr. Satya Chytun
Email:somaurituisdirector1@gmail.com
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Serge Alfred Swimming PoolBeau Basin
MAURITIUS

nov. 16 - 18 2013

Torneo Nacional de Atletismo - Mendoza 2013

This will be the Special Olympics Argentina Athletics National Games where 120 athletes from all over the country will take part. All of the events will take place at the Malvinas Argentinas Stadium which located at the newly inaugurated provincial track. This stadium and it's surrounding complexes hosted the South American Games in 2012.
For more information
More Details
Claudio Jerez
Email:eventos@olimpiadaespecial.org.ar
Phone:(+54-11) 4703-2998
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Mendoza
Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Parque General San Martín

Mendoza, Mendoza
ARGENTINA

novembre 27, 2013

Swimming Competition

Join us in Witbank, South Africa on 27 November for a day of exciting swimming competition. Special Olympics athletes will show their skill and courage while competing in various swimming events. Please contact Mr. Wanga Manyala (contact info below) for event details.
For more information
Mr. Wanga Manyala
Email:wanga@specialolympics.org.za
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Witbank, Mpumalanga
SOUTH AFRICA

nov. 30 - juil. 12 2013

Special Olympics Asia Pacific Regional Games

The inaugural Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games will take place in Newcastle, New South Wales in 2013. The event will see Australia welcome more than 1,700 Special Olympics athletes, 600 coaches, 4,000 volunteers, and approximately 200,000 spectators from 25 nations across the Asia Pacific region. Newcastle will offer world class facilities and venues across the range of nine sports to be conducted during the Games – Athletics, Bocce, Bowling, Basketball, Football, Badminton, Table Tennis, Cricket and Aquatics as well as venues for the Opening Ceremony and Games social hub.
For more information
More Details
Alex McNeilly
Email:alexm@specialolympics.com.au
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Hunter Stadium
294 Turton Rd, New Lambton NSW 2305

Newcastle, New South Wales
AUSTRALIA

juin 13 - 21 2014

2014 USA National Games

The USA National Games be centered in and around Princeton and the Greater Mercer County area. Venues will include Princeton University, Rider University, The College of New Jersey, and Mercer County Park. The New Jersey Devils have offered The Prudential Center as the venue for the Opening Ceremonies. The National Games will feature nearly 3,500 athletes competing in 14 Olympic-style sports, with the support of 1,000 coaches, 8,000 volunteers and an estimated 50,000 family, friends and spectators. Non-competitive special events will include the Final Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run™ that will symbolize the start of the competition and Healthy Athletes, a place where the athletes can get vital health screenings. Youth and education events will also be held in conjunction with the Games as young leaders rally around making change for the better of the Special Olympics movement and promoting acceptance of those with intellectual disabilities.
For more information
More Details
Greg Epperson
Email:gepperson@specialolympics.org
Phone:919-785-0700
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Several Locations - New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
UNITED STATES

sept. 9 - 21 2014

2014 Special Olympics European/Eurasian Summer Games

In September 2014 more than 2,000 athletes from 58 countries will come to Antwerp, Belgium for the 2014 Special Olympics European/Eurasian Summer Games and enjoy 13 days full of joy and friendship. The athletes will compete in 11 sports and be invited to join 5 supporting programs.
For more information
More Details
Special Olympics European Games 2014
Email:info@so2014.com
Phone:+32 3 220 25 00
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Various locations, AntwerpAntwerp
BELGIUM

juil. 24 - févr. 8 2015

World Summer Games Los Angeles 2015

In July of 2014 more than 7,000 athletes from 170 countries will come to Los Angeles, California for the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games and enjoy 10 days full of joy, friendship and competition. Athletes will compete in 22 sports. The event expects to attract 500,000 spectators and 30,000 volunteers and 3,000 coaches.
For more information
More Details
World Summer Games Los Angeles 2015
Email:info@la2015.org
Phone:213-892-6018
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Various Locations, Los Angeles
Los Angeles , California
UNITED STATES

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Aquatics/Swimming Competitions

World Aquatics Invitational 2012

The first Special Olympics World Aquatics Invitational took place in September in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This was the most important sports event in the Special Olympics competition calendar during the second half of 2012.


2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games

Athens, Greece, was the home of the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games. That year, it was the world’s largest sporting event for athletes with intellectual disabilities. See results by athlete, delegation and bib number.


How to Get Involved in Special Olympics

Special Olympics sports training, coaching and competitions go on in more than 170 countries around the world. You can get involved by getting in touch with the closest Special Olympics office.

Special Olympics near you»

Made Possible by The Annenberg Foundation

The Special Olympics movement is profoundly grateful for the support of the Annenberg Foundation which has underwritten the production of the coaches’ guides and resources, supporting our global goals for coaches’ excellence.

LEARN MORE»

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