Swimmer Daniel Rumsey has given his competition a run for their money once again.
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Rumsey competed in eight events at the Down Syndrome National Swimming Championships in Geelong recently, and won five gold medals and two silver medals. Daniel’s father John Rumsey said his son proved to be tough competition in the breaststroke heat.
“He’s very strong in the breaststroke. As far as the world champions is concerned, he’s on top of the world [for breaststroke],” he said.
“He had a lot of competition in the freestyle. There’s younger swimmers coming up that are faster. “His performance in the medley was generally very close, but he scraped in.” Rumsey will find out in January if he will receive an invitation to be a part of the World Down Syndrome Short Course Championships in Halifax, Canada.
He will also decide if he wants to step down from the sport at a competitve level.
John said his son was unsure about his next move. “He doesn’t know if he wants to go to Canada,” he said.
“He’s had enough, he’s been doing it since he was eight. He wants a social life, to spend time with his girlfriend and he wants to play [other sports].
“When the invitation comes out, he’ll have to make up his mind one way or another. He’ll continue with swimming for fitness.”
Whatever decision the athlete makes, the family intends to be advocates for a Down syndrome division at the Paralympics.
John said a separate division was important as athletes with Down syndrome had physical and intellectual disabilities, where as some of their competitors had intellectual disabilities.
“The fight is about it being an unfair competition. We want Down syndrome to be competing with Down syndrome in their own category.”
John said his son played a part in the fight for a Down syndrome division because of his sporting achievements.
“Because of Danny’s history, he can help with the fight, even if he went over [to Canada] and announced that he’s hanging up the goggles,” he said.
“He’ll go out as someone who achieved his goal.”