Possiblies
Born in Leamington Spa, Phil, had blond hair. As a young man, Phil was a genuine inspiration. Although he had a visual impairment he had a fantastic passion for swimming. From a young age, his medals and trophies showed how successful he had been in the local swimming galas with his coach called Jennifer who taught him and made sure was prepared for each swimming competition.
A few weeks later Jenifer had Phil prepared for the national swimming competition that was going to be taking place at Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Birmingham. He had dreamt of winning this event from a young age & had been working towards it since infancy.
The Sandwell Aquatics Centre was full to capacity, as the crowds could be heard cheering for each of the swimmers in the swimming heats. The time had arrived for Phil, who wore a yellow swimming cap and blue trunks as the announcer called his name. This was before someone helped him get into the pool. He was drawn in lane three & waited tensely with the other competitors to hear the starting pistol.
Phil was the quickest out of the starting blocks and was way ahead of his fellow competitors who were struggling to keep up with him. As he was reaching the finish, someone who had a special stick was waiting to tap Phil on his head so he knew that he’d reached the finish line. Phil was the winner of the first swimming heat as the announcer waited for the next heat.
He only had a few moments to wait before he was going to be back in the pool ahead of facing the next swimming heat. Phil only had a few moments for his coach Jennifer to give some words of encouragement telling Phil, “You have got this.” and just to believe in his ability. These words kept playing in his head as he did some loosening exercises to prepare for his next swimming heat.
Phil’s name was the last to be announced by the announcer. He was in the last lane, number 8. The helper helped each of the competitors into the water which looked a clear crystal blue colour.
Each competitor eagerly waited to hear the sound of the starting pistol. Phil did breaststroke and both his hands worked fantastically, in synchronisation. This soon meant he was able to pull away from his competitors and was able to speed to the finish line where he was tapped on the head to let him know that he was close to reaching the end and winning the race. Now he was only one race from tasting success, but only his best would do. Jennifer kept Phil motivated, by
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saying, “You do this and prove all those doubters wrong who for long who have been talking behind your back, bringing into question your zeal for following your passion for swimming from a young age. Show them that you have a supportive family who was all in the crowd to cheer you onto wonderful things when you came to this swimming career!”
There was a tear inside his eye and he used his other hand to dry his eyes, as Jennifer had been Phil’s swimming coach from an early age, She saw the challenges he had faced. She had created unbreakable
confidence into Phil’s mindset and his thinking had completely changed since Jennifer had coached him.
Now she had helped get Phil’s focus back on overcoming one last hurdle, that of hoping to reach success, gaining a gold medal which gave him a sense of achievement. He now possessed positive thoughts and now a positive frame of mind ahead of the big race.
Phil was going through some last-minute stretches before someone helped him into the pool.
This time he was in lane 1 of the swimming pool. The rest of the competitors were in their individual lanes. Time seemed to stand still.
The starting pistol went off to signal the start of the race. Phil used his backstroke and moved his arms and hands together which meant he was gliding through the water like a knife, smoothly cutting through butter. He was picking up a fantastic speed and his legs were pumping with terrific power. This looked like a really strong performance from Phil so far and his fellow competitors were blown away as he was leaving them trailing behind going into the home straight. Phil knew that this was not the time to take his foot off the pedal as he was a few more strokes away from reaching the finishing line, Phil’s legs powered him to the finish line. A person was there to tap him on the head to let him know he had reached the finish line first. This meant that Phil had won the gold medal. He could not believe that he had won until he had it hanging around his neck, but a few weeks later he received a letter from the selection panel, for the Paralympic swimming team saying he had not quite made the time needed to make the team on this occasion, but it made Phil more determined to get selected for next time around.
It was down to him to keep his feet firmly on the ground and not let anything get in his way to achieve his dream. The following week, Jennifer had Phil back in the pool honing his swimming skills in their weekly training sessions.
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Phil joked with Jennifer saying, “Why don’t we set up an inclusive swimming club where people with all abilities and all ages and disabilities are welcome?”
Jennifer said, “This is a fantastic idea. I have other friends who are also swimming coaches who would definitely be willing to help us with this venture, but for now, we need to concentrate on the big picture which is to help you achieve your big dream, Phil.”
Each day Phil worked with his swimming coach. Jennifer increased the training to 5 days a week and even weekends as Jenifer wanted Phil to be in the best shape possible for the next swimming competition which was due to be only a few weeks away, Phil said, “I understand why you are working so hard as my coach because you want the best for me.”
The few weeks passed by in a flash. Phil looked in fantastic shape and ahead of the next swimming competition which was going to be taking place at the Manchester Aquatics Centre. Phil arrived brought to the competition by his family members in their car with his white cane and the support of a family member who helped to put the strap on his bag with all his swimming gear in it. Phil was helped into the changing room. His family members helped him change into blue swimming trunks and helped with his red goggles and then wished Phil good luck before he went to take his seat in the crowd.
The minder helped him on to poolside, where he heard the familiar voice of his swimming coach wishing him the best of luck as the minder help him into the pool where he was in lane 1, Phil and his fellow competitors were eagerly waiting to hear the sound of the starter pistol, which signalled the start of the race.
Phil was out of the starting blocks quickly and he was doing the front crawl, it seemed the fastest way of getting through the water and he left his fellow competitors struggling to keep up, With a few strokes he had reached the finishing line in a really quick time as the announcer at the swimming competition announced that Phil had set a new record for the Manchester Aquatics Centre pool, inside the time of 1 minute and 10 seconds, This also showed the stamina and fitness and strength that he had built. He took in the standing ovation and rapturous applause he was receiving from the packed crowd who had come to watch this swimming competition. Phil only had a 5-minute break, bore the second swimming heat and he was back in the pool again.
His minder gave him a white towel to wrap himself in to keep himself warm while he waited for the next swimming heat to begin. It took a few moments for his coach to give some words of encouragement, saying,
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“You have got this.” These words kept replaying in Phil’’s head as the next swimming heat was about to begin shortly, so Phil took his towel off and handed it to his minder. He helped Phil into the pool. He was going to be in lane 3 for this heat. A big cheer went up as the announcer announced each of the competitors’ names. Each of the competitors was eagerly waiting to hear the sound of the starting pistol.
The starting pistol went off to signal the start of the race. Phil did backstroke and soon was kicking his feet, powering Phil past his competitors who were left behind him as he was powering to the finish line in an even quicker time of 1 minute and 5 seconds, which was even quicker by 2 seconds. He had got his second record in consecutive swimming heats. For Phil, this meant he had qualified for the final heat. The final swimming heat was going to start in a few moments.
Phil stayed in the pool and lifted the buoyancy aid up and made his way back to one of the other swimming pools. All the competitors were in their rightful lanes as the starter pistol was heard to signal the start of the race.
He went with the butterfly stroke. He made a slow start but Phil went through the gears as his legs and arms worked with efficient synchronisation and he was soon reaching the finishing line where he got tapped on the head to notify him that he’d reached the end.
Phil was in complete shock; he did not believe he had won the gold medal in another swimming competition. His minder helped him out of the pool and helped him into the changing rooms, where a family member was on hand help to help Phil get out of his wet swimming trunks and help turn the shower and pass him his shower gel and shampoo to wash his hair.
Then he was helped to put his clothes on. He put his swimming gear and clothing back in his training bag and zipped his training bag up. Phil was given his white cane as he was proudly presented with his gold medal.
Family members held his hand as they headed towards the carpark and opened the car. He loaded his training bag on the back seat of the car and, after a 15-minute car journey from Manchester, arrived back home. Phil’s last message was, “That anyone can achieve their dream!”
Well done Phil!
