Wairarapa swim team too fast

The Wai Toa Special Olympics Wairarapa swim team made a huge impact at the Levin Aquatics regional event.

In fact, the 14-strong squad aged from 14 to 67 swam so well that many were disqualified for being too fast.

Head coach Gaylene van Wijk said this situation was not unusual, as Special Olympians were apt to perform better than even their coaches thought possible.

And that created a problem because swimmers are placed in events according to their supposed abilities. If they record times far quicker than estimated, they are disqualified.

"It can be difficult for coaches to read exactly what their swimmers are going to do once the adrenalin starts to flow," van Wijk said. "In our case, a lot of them blitzed their estimated times in heats, semis and finals."

As it happened, however, every member of the Wai Toa squad gained a medal at the Levin meet and van Wijk said she was proud of what they achieved as they continued their long build-up to the national championships in Dunedin in November next year.

Results

Matthew Blathwayt: 100m individual medley 3, 4 x 25m freestyle relay 2, 50m breaststroke 4.

Jayne Bruce: 25m backstroke 3, 25m freestyle 4, 50m freestyle 3.

Kate Bruce: 25m backstroke 2, 25m butterfly 3, 25m freestyle 1, 4 x 25m freestyle relay 2.

Karen Anne Johns: 25m backstroke 6, 25m freestyle 4, 50m freestyle 1.

Rosie Lacey: 25m backstroke 2, 25m freestyle 1, 4 x 25m freestyle relay 2, 50m freestyle 3.

Caleb MacNamara: 25m backstroke 4, 25m freestyle 3, 4 x 25m freestyle relay 2, 50m backstroke 4.

Samarah McKinnon: 15m walk 3.

Ruby Morrison: 100m freestyle 4, 25m freestyle 1, 50m freestyle 2.

Summer Murray: 25m freestyle 6, 4 x 25m freestyle relay 2.

Daniel Simonsen: 15m unassisted swim 1, 25m backstroke 1, 25m freestyle 2.

Nicole Taylor: 25m backstroke 4, 25m freestyle 5, 4 x 25m freestyle relay 2, 50m backstroke 2.

Amy van Wijk: 15m unassisted swim 3, 25m backstroke 1, 25m freestyle 1, 4 x 25m freestyle relay 2.

Hannah van Wijk: 25m backstroke 2, 25m freestyle 2, 4 x 25m freestyle relay 2, 50m backstroke 2.

Caroline Walsh: 15m flotation race 2, 15m unassisted swim 4.