Swimming News: Getting Over Fear of Drowning, 17-Year-Old Autistic Kid Set To Make a Mark at 2024 Summer Paralympics

The Paris Olympics symbolize achievement, for experienced swimmers but the 17-year-old athlete striving to make this dream come true is truly extraordinary. This young individual, grappling with autism and apraxia challenges and being nonverbal is brimming with determination to secure a spot in the Paris Paralympics for swimming. Despite the concerning statistic that points out drowning as a cause of death among children with autism, this athlete is defying expectations, instilling hope and resilience in everyone.

Cyrus Kia moves through the water with purpose. His coach, Fran Teetsel, cheers him on from the sidelines, urging him to go faster and maintain proper form. Despite being mostly nonverbal due to significant apraxia, Cyrus has found his voice in the water, driven by a passion for swimming that knows no bounds. However, the best part is he is going to the Paris Paralympics.

Cyrus Kia’s road to the Paris Paralympics

This spring, Cyrus is primed to revolutionize the landscape of competitive swimming as he gears up for the 2024 Paris Paralympics. His odyssey will carry him from the prestigious Citi Para Swimming World Series USA in Indianapolis to the pinnacle of the sport at the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials in Minneapolis, with noteworthy detours at events like the esteemed Bill Keating Cincinnati Para-Swimming Open. While his journey is riddled with obstacles, Cyrus remains steadfast in his resolve to conquer them and etch his name alongside the globe’s most elite athletes.

Cyrus’s journey into competitive swimming was far from easy. From his humble beginnings as a timid 5-year-old learning to swim alongside his twin brother, Cameron, who shares his diagnosis of autism, to his current rigorous training regimen under Coach Teetsel at Scarlet Aquatics, Cyrus encountered numerous challenges along the way. However, his unwavering determination propelled him through every obstacle he faced.

Finding his place in competitive swimming

When Kia was 15 he went through a two day tryout, at Montgomery High School and managed to secure a place, on the varsity swim team. Yet his quest to discover the swim club posed quite a challenge for him. Despite demonstrating impressive tryout times, Kia encountered discrimination due to his autism diagnosis, leading to heartbreaking rejections from local USA Swimming clubs.

Eventually, he found his place at Scarlet Aquatics, affiliated with Rutgers University, where he trains rigorously under his coach’s guidance. Nowadays, Kia’s schedule revolves around intensive training sessions at the swim club in Piscataway, supplemented by additional workouts at Princeton Fitness and Wellness in Montgomery.

During practices, Coach Teetsel employs a combination of hand signals and verbal instructions, catering to Kia’s visual learning style. Innovative techniques, like balancing a water bottle on his forehead while swimming backstroke, illustrate Teetsel’s commitment to enhancing Kia’s skills and confidence in the water. Despite the challenges he’s faced, Kia’s passion for swimming shines through. coaches serve as an inspiration to others.

Read More: “Never Forget the Work”: Thankful for His Prolific Olympic Success, Swimming Icon Michael Phelps Honors Legendary Coaches