Team Zadkiel going for gold at Olympics event

Young Zadkiel Beazley Tango is representing the Kaikohe Amateur Swimming Club at the Special Olympics National Swimming Championships in Otago this week.

The 11-year-old Kaikohe Intermediate School student - who has Down Syndrome - is participating in four swims at the nationals which are being held from November 27-30: the 25m freestyle and backstroke events, the 50m backstroke, 4x25m, and 4x50m medley.

He currently trains with the KASC in Kaikohe during the summer and the Bay of Islands club at the Kawakawa heated pool over the winter season, under the guidance of Sharon Cooper. KASC spokesperson Anne Stillwell, who has coached Zad since he joined the KASC aged 5, admitted everyone had been "overwhelmed" by his progress over the past few years.

"I have coached Zadkiel since he first started Learn to Swim and to have him selected to compete in the national champs is such an achievement."

Zadkiel with Cooper and coaches from the Kaikohe and BOI swim clubs left for Dunedin with the 28-strong Bay of Islands Special Olympics team - which includes eight Kaitaia College students - yesterday before returning on Sunday [updates on the squad's progress at the event will feature in upcoming editions].

Meanwhile, Anne Stillwell said the event represented a massive challenge for her young protege.

"It takes quite a while for him to adjust to change. He is coping very well and that's in no small part thanks to Sharon being with him all this time," said Anne.

She wasn't overly concerned, it must be said, noting the indomitable Zadkiel had already competed in various meets recently in which he had won numerous medals, but still wished him all the best.

"Zadkiel likes to go for gold. What an inspiration for our Tai Tokerau and Ngapuhi roopu [area]."