A new, volunteer-based learning program geared toward para-swimmers has arrived in Penticton.
The KISU Swim Club has unveiled its 鈥淧ara Learn to Swim Program,鈥� with hopes of becoming a Canadian leader in developing athletes with physical, visual, or intellectual impairments.
Naomi Antler, a KISU Swim Club coach and coordinator, introduced the program to Penticton city council on Tuesday, Feb. 6.
鈥淭here is a gap between swimming lessons and kids with impairments of any kind,鈥� Antler explained.
鈥淥ur program is one-on-one instruction to allow for the instructors to adapt the program to the athlete they are working with.鈥�
A trip to a Saskatchewan pool earlier this swim season helped inspire the idea to start the program, Antler said.
The province is home to Canada鈥檚 largest 鈥淧ara Learn to Swim Program,鈥� which consists of 30 athletes. 鈥淚t鈥檚 more affordable and accessible than private lessons,鈥� Antler said of the new local program. 鈥淲e have support from Swiming Canada, inspired by the club in Saskatchewan.鈥�
The learning program will be available for swimmers aged four and up.
Antler says that Janet Dunn 鈥� a wheelchair athletics and swim coach for Canada at the 1984, 1988 and 2012 Paralympics 鈥� will be among those responsible for training the volunteers at the forefront of the Penticton program.
鈥淜ISU has been a leader in para-swimming for years, as we鈥檝e had many swimmers make national teams and camps,鈥� Antler said. 鈥淲e currently have the most para-swimmers out of all clubs in B.C.鈥�
Antler has watched several success stories unfold in her local coaching tenure, including the one of Oliver-born Riley Martin.
In 2022, the KISU para-swimmer became the first Canadian in his classification to complete a 400-metre individual medley swim.
Local para-swimmers make up part of the 200 of the youth that currently compete for the KISU Swim Club.
鈥淧ara Learn to Swim Program鈥� sessions will run at the Penticton Community Centre. More information about the club鈥檚 new program can be found here.
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