SGB multiclass swimmers lead the way

SWIMMING Victoria is encouraging swimming for all abilities, with changes to the multiclass swimming entries to encourage more swimmers to compete and be involved. 

South Gippsland Bass Swimming Club (SGB) has been encouraging its multiclass swimmers and they have thrived.

For many, like Gemma Cook, most of her swimming meets finds her racing against able bodied swimmers. 

However, with the changes she has been able to compete at more events against other swimmers with the same classification as her. 

Gemma was recently selected for the Victorian Schools Team, competing in Sydney against others of the same age, with the same classification – something she just loved. 

Gemma only started competitively racing a year ago and has gone from strength to strength. 

With the rise in multiclass swimmers competing for SGB, the club was able to enter a relay team at the recent Victorian Countries Swimming Championships. 

Byron Doran entered in the all abilities relay team where two multiclass swimmers raced with two full ability swimmers in the event.

While the team didn’t place, the smiles on the swimmers who were part of the team was a sign of how proud they were to be able to compete. 

SGB offers multiclass sessions at the Leongatha pool, but swimmers can also train with the regular squads. 

Byron has been swimming since he was six months old. 

Byron’s always loved water whether playing with it or being in it. 

Living in a coastal town, his parents always saw the need for Byron to learn to swim especially having a disability and not understanding the dangers of water. 

Byron’s is in his third-year training with SGB in Leongatha with Lorri McKenzie as his coach and has recently started training with the Special Olympics team - Dandenong Casey Titans (DCT). 

DCT team trains every second Sunday in Dandenong, and he is competing in September. 

Byron just loves to swim but doesn’t understand the competitive side of racing. 

He knows he just has to get in and swim, listening to his coach and their instructions, but doesn’t necessarily go fast. Sometimes he thinks he is doing exactly what the other swimmers are doing but it doesn’t come out that way in the water for him.

Byron’s disability makes learning a slow process and takes a lot longer for him to learn the process, but he does learn and totally understands all his coaches say to him. 

Swimming with SGB has provided Byron and his family to be a part of the sporting community in a fun inclusive way.

SGB continues to grow its swimmers of all abilities and welcomes new swimmers to the club.