First Deaf Woman Swims Anacapa Channel

Deaf News: A swimmer from Colorado made local history being the first Deaf woman to complete the Anacapa Island Channel swim.

SANTA BARBARA, CA -- Micki Poole, a 50-year-old Deaf competitive swimmer from Greeley, Colorado completed the swim on September 12th in 7 hours, 2 minutes off the Santa Barbara coast. Poole became the first Deaf person to finish the 12.4 mile feat.

The channel is a challenge for all types of swimmers. The water is cold and choppy with strong currents, not to mention the predatory fish lingering about. Plus there are a host of rules making it even hard, one being the use of a wetsuit is prohibited.

"Typically five people attempt this swim every year, and half of them make it", said the president of the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association, Scott Zornig. Poole will be recognized for her accomplishment at the club's banquet in November.

"Channel swimmers typically have their coach on a boat telling them what to do, when to take breaks, and most importantly to encourage the swimmer...

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Manitoba Swimmer At Deaflympics

Manitoba's Thomas Osborn, The Kelvin High School student will represent Canada at the 2013 Deaflympics.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Thomas Osborn lives in three worlds. Deaf, hearing and underwater. It's in the water world he is reaching heights never imagined by him or his family when his hearing, on a continuous decline since birth, completely disappeared at age 10.

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The Kelvin High School student will represent Canada at the 2013 Deaflympics July 26-Aug. 4 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He's one of just six swimmers on Team Canada for the international multi-sport games, which is sanctioned by the International Committeee of Sports of the Deaf. (Deaf athletes are not eligible for the Paralympics so this is their Olympics.)

"There's a running joke with athletes who swim is that the pool is a second home," said Thomas, a member of the Manitoba Marlins Swim Club. "Our group spends over 25 hours (per week) training. Swimming has given me a lot of achievements, I'm proud of that, and I am hoping to achieve even more."

The youngest child and only son of Carolynn and DeWayne Osborn, Thomas will compete in five events at the Deaflympics the 400-, 200-, 100- and 50-metre freestyle events and the 200-m individual medley.

"It's amazing to me, for him to get to the level he is at in swimming, given what he's had to overcome," DeWayne said.

"We're very proud of all the things he's accomplished," Carolynn said. "You don't always get what you want in life. You play the hand you were dealt. So that's the hand we've been dealt, that's the hand he's been dealt, and I think he's played it remarkably well."

A friendly, polite, confident young man, with an easy smile, Thomas turned 17 on Sunday, the day he left for Bulgaria... Read The Full Story.

Sofia 2013 Deaflympics: http://sofia2013.com

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http://www.sofia2013.com/live/program

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http://sofia2013.com/news

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Related Deaflympics:
2013 Deaflympics, Sofia, Bulgaria
Deaflympics: Press Conference in Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia 2013 Opening Ceremony LIVE Stream
Deaflympics: Media Coverage of Sofia 2013

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