Special Olympics: Aquatics Sport Center

Aquatics Sport Center

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.

Stories Events Games

The thrill of winning is a universal joy.

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.

Coaching Guide

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News and Stories

June 13, 2013 | North America: North Carolina

For Sarah Stikeleather The "Big C" Stands for Champion

By Megan O'Donnell

“She is a tremendous inspiration,” said Tammy Cromie-Wilkins, giving her daughter Sarah a hug. “She’s battled so many medical issues and life threatening diseases and still comes out here and gives her blood, sweat and tears in her events.View Story ▼“She is a tremendous inspiration,” said Tammy Cromie-Wilkins, giving her daughter Sarah a hug. “She’s battled so many medical issues and life threatening diseases and still comes out here and gives her blood, sweat and tears in her events. I don’t know how you grow that kind of strength.” The young Stikeleather is a fighter as well as a competitor and it’s been that way her entire life. Doctors have diagnosed her twice with “the big C” and twice she’s beaten the cancer. At age four, she was diagnosed with leukemia and that came after having endured open heart surgery and multiple ear surgeries as a toddler. After two and a half years of chemo and radiation, her leukemia went into remission. Then in 2009, amidst dealing with seizures and blood pressure issues, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. After surgery to remove her thyroid and radiation,; today she is relatively in good health. “Sarah has taught me so much more than I’ll ever teach her,” said her mother. “She’s taught me, no limits, no I can’ts, and no matter the outcome, it’s the journey there that matters. And we don’t sweat the small stuff anymore. “ Special Olympics has been Stikeleather’s outlet since she was nine years-old. In her career, she has participated in swimming, track & field, bocce, bowling, alpine skiing, equestrian and golf. Her mom is her coach in all those sports except equestrian. “I like to be active,” said Stikeleather. “I love to workout. It helps me go fast in practice. And I like to win gold. It’s my favorite to win.” “You can’t find enough adjectives to describe the athletes’ determination and dedication,” said Cromie- Wilkins. “Being a coach, I see just how very hard Sarah and all the other athletes work. You simply can’t complain when you know what these athletes deal with and then see them put forth the effort they do in their sports.”

May 17, 2013 | East Asia: China

Special Olympics East Asia im Coaches &Trainers Training Seminar

By Lafael Liu

From April 13th till 15th , the 3-day Special Olympics East Asia im Coaches & Trainers Training Seminar was held, and it was the first training course that Special Olympics and Michael Phelps Foundation introduced to Special Olympics coaches in the East Asia region.View Story ▼From April 13th till 15th , the 3-day Special Olympics East Asia im Coaches &Trainers Training Seminar has been held at Shanghai Disabled Persons' Sport Training Center. This is also the first training course that Special Olympics and Michael Phelps Foundation introduced to Special Olympics coaches in East Asia region. There were around 30 coaches from China, Chinese Taipei, Korea, Hong Kong and Macau attended the seminar. During the seminar, Cathy, Michael Phelp's first swim instructor, and her colleague Gary from Michael Phelps Swim School elaborated on the "im project" theory and the concept behind for all the attendees. Beyond theoretical sessions, the seminar also arranged practical training everyday so as to help coaches better understand the knowledge.

March 18, 2013 | North America: Canada

Lindsey an insperation to all

By Heather Smith

Lindsey was diagnosed as being brain damaged therefore she would never walk, talk or feed herself so we should consider putting her in an institution. Lindsey is a figure skater, bowler, track and field and swimmer.View Story ▼When Lindsey was born we were told she had a hole in her heart and she would be slow developing. At 7 months she was diagnosed as being brain damaged therefore she would never walk, talk or feed herself so we should consider putting her in an institution. Lindsey is a figure skater, bowler, track and field and swimmer. She has gone to 2 National games both for skating and many provincial games for swimming, track and skating. Lindsey has a part-time job at Tim Horton's and is also an athlete ambassador. Because of her involvement both my husband and myself are coaches with Special Olympics Durham.

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Upcoming Aquatics Events

Date	Event	Location
Jun 28 - Jan 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 DetailsView More	The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio UNITED STATES
Jun 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) 824-0366View More	ZeistUtrecht NETHERLANDS
Jun 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 DetailsView More	Davis, California UNITED STATES
Jun 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 DetailsView More	Boise Boise, Idaho UNITED STATES
July 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 View More	YMCA of Palestine 5500 North Loop 256 Palestine, Texas UNITED STATES
August 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 informationView More	Lago de CoatepequeSanta Ana EL SALVADOR
Aug 28 - Sep 1 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. For more information More DetailsView More	University of Bath Bath, Claverton Down UNITED KINGDOM
October 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.comView More	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) 4703-2998View More	Mendoza Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Parque General San Martín Mendoza, Mendoza ARGENTINA
November 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.zaView More	Witbank, Mpumalanga SOUTH AFRICA
Nov 30 - Dec 7 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.auView More	Hunter Stadium 294 Turton Rd, New Lambton NSW 2305 Newcastle, New South Wales AUSTRALIA
Jun 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:919-785-0700View More	Several Locations - New Jersey Princeton, New Jersey UNITED STATES
Sep 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 00View More	Various locations, AntwerpAntwerp BELGIUM
Jul 24 - Aug 2 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:213-892-6018View More	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.

See the Results

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.

See the Results

Related Coaching Resources

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.

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