As Special Olympics and the Michael Phelps Foundation (MPF) continue their partnership, the future of swimming for athletes with intellectual disabilities looks brighter than ever. Through the expanding reach of the Phelps Swimming program, there are more opportunities than ever for training, competitions, and community involvement within the sport and these are key priorities for both Special Olympics and the MPF.
Stacey Beadle, Program Manager with the Michael Phelps Foundation, shared, “The partnership with Special Olympics has continued to thrive, with the IM Program expanding to thousands of participants in over 35 countries. The program aims to give Special Olympics athletes the opportunity and encouragement to become more comfortable, confident, and faster in the water. In order to accomplish this, the Michael Phelps Foundation acknowledges the important role of the coach and provides comprehensive training for coaches through a "train the trainer" method.”
Most recently, the MPF and Special Olympics teamed up in Dublin, Ireland for a swimming clinic, IM Champion Coaching Course Ireland 2024, that saw 18 coaches from 7 Special Olympics programs attend including Estonia, Germany, Italy, Israel, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Slovenia. The clinic, hosted by Special Olympics Ireland, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia, and Special Olympics International, along with the Michael Phelps Foundation, utilized the educational resources of the MPF to provide Level 1 and Level 2 coaching education to Special Olympics coaches, staff, and volunteers.
“It was an honor to have welcomed the MPF Team, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia, Special Olympics International, and the other Special Olympics programs to Dublin for the weekend. It was an eagerly anticipated event that was filled with joyful memories, new friendships, and continued successful collaborations between the Special Olympics programs.”
With a focus on growth, empowerment, and inclusion, the partnership between the Special Olympics and the Michael Phelps Foundation is set to leave a legacy in the world of swimming. Through their efforts, countless athletes with intellectual disabilities have been given the opportunity to pursue greatness in the pool—and in life.
The experienced coaches from the IM Champion Coaching Course will continue the ‘train the trainer’ model they were educated on and now have the ability to coach Level 1 and Level 2 swimming courses to their local Special Olympic programs. This model allows the reach of high-quality coaching to expand globally and create a base layer of safe, structured, and top-tier swimming techniques in their local communities.
With the 18 coaches in attendance over the weekend, there were 332 collective years of experience between them. This opened the floor to incredibly knowledgeable round-table conversations between the experts from MPF and the group of Special Olympic coaches. The conversations shed light on the incredible work taking place across the world of swimming—in particular, in Special Olympics Europe Eurasia.
Mirek Krogulec, Vice President of Sport with Special Olympics Europe Eurasia (SOEE) said, "The keen interest of the 7 participating countries from across Europe is a clear and strong signal for the urgency of the IM Training Program in Dublin. Swimming remains one of the top priority sports for the Special Olympics Europe Eurasia region and is prominently featured in most Special Olympics national and local competitions across 55 countries. There is no doubt that the opportunity to receive expert training will enable the coaches to deliver better quality service thereby benefiting thousands of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Ultimately, this training will see our athletes become more confident in the water during leisure time and in competitive moments”
Throughout the weekend, coaches were at the forefront of the work. On the final day of sessions, coaches were able to showcase their new education in front of a local audience and many coaches had already begun the process of delivering the Level 2 course. Slovenia being one of the programs delivering Level 2 courses, has since hosted 22 coaches to expand their skillset for the betterment of their athletes.
Special Olympics Ireland’s coach, Kevin Dowling, spoke on his experience, “I particularly enjoyed the practical aspects of the training. The in-water component on day 2 was beneficial as I found the drills useful as I was experiencing them from an athlete perspective.”
The Michael Phelps Foundation and Special Olympics have only begun to scratch the surface at what is possible through its partnership and is looking forward to expanding and building the world of inclusive swimming for all.
