Special Olympics Squad Train at Physio Pool
Philip Lomas finds out next week whether he will represent his country at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in July.
Mr Lomas, of Dunedin, trains at the Otago Therapeutic Physio Pool each week, with up to 40 other Otago Special Olympics members.
Mr Lomas, who has autism, has been in the Otago team for nearly 15 years, but had made huge progress with his turns and overall confidence in recent years, assistant coach Codie Roud (22) said.
Ms Roud said she had seen Mr Lomas transform into a ”completely different person” in the four years she had helped the team.
Parent helper Clare Brown said Special Olympics training would likely come to an end if the physio pool had to close.
Access to hoists, water temperature, and lack of noise were all important factors for team members.
Special Olympics swimmers had an intellectual disability, but often also had a physical disability.
Mrs Brown said it was gratifying to see the community had started to embrace the physio pool campaign.
Members of the Otago Special Olympics swimming team. Photo by Gregor Richardson.