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Two Bendigonians have been selected to compete in the Special Olympics Trans Tasman Tournament.
Tara Smith, 28, and Zachary Flint, 25, are among the 16-member Victorian swim squad flying to New Zealand for the November event.
Swimming has been part of both their lives from an early age.
Tara’s first lesson took place when she was six weeks old, to help with her muscle development.
Babies with Down syndrome can have reduced muscle tone.
More opportunities to swim became available to her as she grew, and Tara honed her technique.
“She just loves competing, she loves swimming,” said her mother, Christine Smith.
“I am still amazed at how she’s learned to be so technically correct.
“She’s so neat and smooth and streamlined.”
But every time Tara jumps in the pool, there’s an element of risk involved.
“She’s epileptic, which is controlled by medication, so she has to be supervised in water in case of seizures,” Mrs Smith said.
Zachary started swimming about 10 years ago, partly because of concerns about his fitness, partly because it seemed a sensible thing to do.
“He’s just one of those kids who has always loved water,” said his mother, Sue Flint.
When he was 15, his resting pulse was “extremely high.”
Swimming has not only benefited his state of physical wellbeing, it has helped Zachary make friends and created a sense of belonging.
“Even though swimming is individual he is with a team – they support each other, they go away as a team,” Mrs Flint said.
“It’s got that benefit of Zachary being with his peers. He just loves being in that team environment.”
Zachary has an intellectual disability.
“He has autistic tendencies, but not enough to be labelled autism,” Mrs Flint said.
On a corkboard on his bedroom wall, framed by ribbons and medals for his swimming and ten-pin bowling achievements, is a photograph of Zachary with his idol, Olympian Dawn Fraser.
The Trans Tasman Tournament could provide opportunities for him to add to his wall.
“All I’m going to do is my best,” Zachary said.
The tournament is in its third year and aims to provide more opportunities for people with an intellectual disability.
Special Olympics Australia and Special Olympics New Zealand partnered to organise the event.
About 120 Australian athletes will represent their state or territory at the games, from November 25-27.
It will be the first international competition for many in the Victorian swim squad, coach Shirley Milgate said.
Although Zachary has represented Victoria before, this will be the first time he has done so outside of Australia.
He won a silver medal in the 100 metre freestyle at the Special Olympics Australia National Games in Melbourne in 2014.
Zachary also took home bronze for his contribution to the four by 100 metre freestyle relay.
He is excited for his first international swim meet and will be competing in the men’s 200 metre freestyle, 100 metre freestyle and 50 metre backstroke individual events.
Zachary will also be a member of the Victorian A relay team, swimming freestyle.
Tara has represented Australia twice before at international competitions.
She swam in the 2013 Asia Pacific Games in Newcastle and the 3rd Down Syndrome International and World Championships in Ireland in 2006.
Mrs Smith, said her daughter had been swimming competitively since the age of 15.
She said Tara was approaching the games with the aim to swim well and have fun.
“If she can bring home some medals, that would be great,” Mrs Smith said.
Tara will compete in the women’s 100 metre freestyle, 100 metre backstroke and 100 metre breaststroke individual events, and a women’s freestyle relay team.
“She is getting very fit and very strong and is beating her personal times from the last regional games,” Mrs Smith said.
The team has its final group training session in Melbourne at the weekend.
They will then compete in two regional Victorian competition before departing for Hamilton, New Zealand.
Bendigo’s own Games of Faith will be the final opportunity local supporters will have to cheer on both swimmers before they leave.
The annual inter-regional competition is hosted by Special Olympics Bendigo and named in honour of previous patron and Olympic swimming star Faith Leech.
It starts on October 29 and has a focus on aquatics and ten-pin bowling.
The Big Give, an online central Victorian crowdfunding effort, contributed $260 towards the Games of Faith’s running costs.
People who wish to support the Trans Tasman Tournament athletes can donate via the event website.