Watch the video above: Saskatoon para-swimmer on Team Canada
SASKATOON – Athletes have to overcome countless obstacles throughout their careers. For Saskatoon teenager Samantha Ryan, her biggest challenge came long before she decided to become a competitive swimmer.
“I was born with a tumor and when they removed it during the surgery it affected my legs and the nerves so I have drop feet and I can’t fully control my feet and the muscles,” said Ryan.
The 14-year-old didn’t let that deter her from becoming an accomplished swimmer.
Ryan will represent Canada at the upcoming Pan Pacific Para-swimming Championships after she qualified for the team in the women’s S10 100m Butterfly in Miami last month.
“At first I was just really excited that I got chosen and then it sunk in that I would be competing on a national team and then I got a little bit nervous.”
Ryan has been a member of the Saskatoon Goldfins Swim Club for over two years. Her coach Steven Hitchings saw her potential and pushed her to become a competitive swimmer.
“It’s something we talk about often, getting onto the world stage, an international stage. And having a Goldfin swimmer do that – and Sam being the first one through the door -just makes me really proud to be her coach,” said Hitchings.
Ryan will be the only female athlete from Saskatchewan heading to the 2014 Para Pan-Am Games set for August in Pasadena, Calif.
She worked hard to get to this point but admits that she would be nowhere without her parents’ support.
“My parents and my coach they put a lot of effort into my training and making sure I get the best training so that I can excel and when I do good in meets and competitions I feel like I’ve proved to them that it was all worth it,” said Ryan.
Ryan dreams of one day competing at the Paralympics. While that day may be a long ways ahead, the future looks bright for this inspiring young athlete.
Para-swimming is Swimming Canada’s fully integrated swimming program for athletes of all ages with a disability.
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