MUSCATINE, Iowa-Since the middle of January, Special Olympics of Muscatine athletes have worked hard to grow their swimming skills ahead of the annual district swim meet, traditionally held at Muscatine High School. A season filled with fun, skill building, and friendly competition, the athletes did their best in Carver Pool at Muscatine High School Feb. 25 to put themselves on the path to competing at the State Summer Games in Ames. Held in May, the games will allow swimmers, along with Muscatine’s bocce ball and track and field athletes, to go up against some of the best Special Olympics athletes from across the state.

For the past two years, Sarah Pfeiffer has coached Special Olympics swimming and has loved watching each of the athletes who participate blossom into more self-assured swimmers. At their weekly 45 minute practices, Pfeiffer works with the athletes to develop their technique in different strokes as well as to increase their endurance in preparation for the races they will swim in. She always makes the practices enjoyable, using creative ways to build the athletes skills and confidence. “We try to laugh and have some fun playing games,” she shared.

At this year’s district meet, six different Special Olympics swim teams, including Muscatine, Clinton County, the Dubuque Packers, Dubuque Hill and Dale, Midwest Magic, and Scott County competed. In all, Muscatine had 13 athletes swim in 13 different events including both individual races and relays. Muscatine’s athletes proved that their training paid off, winning a combined 25 gold medals, three silver medals, and one bronze medal.

For Pfeiffer though, seeing the athletes have a good time and realize that they could achieve great things represented the best parts of the meet for her. At the beginning of the season many athletes questioned whether they could swim the whole length of the races they planned to enter, but by the time they got to the meet, they realized they could and excelled. The support they received from their fellow athletes and families also made a tremendous impact. She shared that many athletes most enjoy, “just finishing their races or getting to compete with each other at a higher level,” as well as, “seeing their families cheer them on.”

Though the state swim meet remains several months away, Pfeiffer feels confident Special Olympics of Muscatine’s athletes will continue to shine. As with all of their events, she will continue to emphasize the importance of enjoying swimming and feeling good about accomplishments to put athletes in the best frame of mind to have success. As she put it, she hopes, “everyone has fun while they swim and feels proud.”