The Paralympic Games got its ultimate glorification from American author Joey Reiman. Reiman once said, “The Olympics is where heroes are made. The Paralympics is where heroes come.” The indication is clear, the very participation in this game is heroism in itself. The physical and circumstantial difficulties the participants overcome to make themselves worthy as a sportsperson is paramount. The Paralympic swimming arena of the US recently witnessed one such larger-than-life tale of grit and determination.
The young swimming prodigy struck with a congenital genetic disorder, never uttered a word clearly. However, the blues of this inability seem to have found its cure in the blues of the pool. And the high school student has started showing bright dreams for the swimming realm of his country.
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A tale of swimming against the tide
Cyrus Kia, a Montgomery High School Student, suffers from Autism and Ataxia. Being a non-verbal child, learning how to swim was already difficult for him. This was compounded by the fear of drowning. But Kia’s parents, Raman and Jessica, did not lose hope. Their efforts met with success in 2011 as they spotted aquatics instructor Frances Teetsel.
Jessica said to the Montgomery News, “according to Jessica. “She made us feel welcome, even when Cyrus was struggling.” The story took a turnaround from here. With Teetsel’s guidance into its twelfth year now, the pool is Cyrus’ “home away from home,” according to Jessica. This association first showed its colors recently as Cyrus took part in a national swim competition— the 2023 U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Championships in Orlando, Florida from December 15 to 17. However, challenges were plenty.
Cyrus also found it difficult to find a club for his disease. Again, his daunting parents stood for him. Eventually, Scarlet Aquatics in Piscataway accepted him as a member. Its head coach, Tom Speedling, has been guiding him for about three-hour training sessions daily. Things have taken a better turn for Cyrus and with that, a dream is popping up in his mind.
Dream to rise to the grandest stage
Navigating through many difficulties, Cyrus now has a fan club. The fandom is not questioning his shortcomings, rather they are celebrating it. This has made Cyrus even more confident and happier in the pool. Jessica said, “When Cyrus is in the water, he isn’t limited or judged for his unique style, but rather accepted and embraced for his differences.” With all the love, Cyrus seems to give back to his fans now.
Cyrus aspires to become a member of the US Olympic training center in Colorado Springs and eventually represent his country in the highest sporting arena. According to Coach Wilma Wong, a national high-performance coach for Olympic and Paralympic athletes, thinks this dream coming true is not far away for Cyrus. We wait to see Cyrus rise to the occasion!
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Written by
Edited by
Bhujaya Ray Chowdhury