Canadian Down Syndrome Swimming Association reunites in N.L. ahead of championship in Turkey

Since Friday, swimmers have been having fun, competing and reuniting at the Aquarena in St. John's. This year, the St. John's Legends Swim club invited the Canadian Down Syndrome Swimming Association to their Iceberg Invitational Long Course Meet, representing an opportunity for the CDSSA team to get together again before their next world championship competition in 2024. 

"I'm having fun," said Tyler Robinson of St. John's, one of the CDSSA swimmers and a member of the St. John's Legends. He said it feels great to see his teammates again for the first time since last October when the championships were held in Portugal. "It is good, really, to let them in to St. John's and welcome them to St. John's and give them a tour."

Robinson's teammates are from all across Canada and he said they are bringing the team on bus tours and boat tours while they're here. 

"We'll go around St. John's and eat fish and chips," he said.

Robinson has been swimming since he was 5 years old and is passionate about the sport. 

"I like to swim because it is good for me and helps me move my body," Robinson said. "I'm getting faster every day."

As for the next world championship in Antalya, Turkey in March 2024, Robinson said he's planning on getting a medal.

CDSSA head coach Darcy Irwin said it was Robinson's idea to invite the Canadian team to his hometown. 

"Tyler's been involved in the last three World Championship meets." Irwin said. "He's an incredible athlete. He brings a lot of sportsmanship to the team. He knows how to get the athletes going."

Irwin said the swim meet has been a big success for his team so far.

"All the swimmers have swam incredibly well," Irwin said. "We have set a few Americas' records. We're looking and waiting for results right now until finals to see if we've set any more, but we're really impressed with how our swimmers are swimming."

Irwin has been a swimming coach for over 20 years and first got involved with the CDSSA after he coached a woman who had Down syndrome.

Now, he's based out of British Columbia, and the distance between him and the other swimmers can sometimes prove challenging, both geographically and financially. 

"We don't have a ton of funding to do this," Irwin said. "It's all parent sponsored and everybody's paying for themselves for the most part. We do have a few sponsors, but we're not receiving the same funding as Special Olympics or Para Swimming."