HUMBOLDT β A local swimmer will travel to the Arabian Peninsula this winter to compete in the Special Olympics World Games.
Tia Zimmerman will be one of 20 swimmers on Team Canada at the games, which will be held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The path to Abu Dhabi began for Zimmerman, when she competed in the provincial Special Olympics Saskatchewan Summer Games in Moose Jaw in 2017.
βAfter that ended, I was an alternate for the nationals but then I ended up going anyways because I had to replace someone,β she said.
The national Special Olympics, held in Antigonish, NS, July 31 to Aug. 4, saw Zimmerman win one gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
Two days later, she found out she qualified for the worlds.
βI think I was more shocked at that point,β she said. βExcitement hadnβt settled in yet because I was too shocked to realize.β
To prepare for the games, the 17-year-old has been swimming four times a week and going to the gym on the days sheβs not swimming. At the gym, sheβs focusing on cardio and strength training. She is also eating healthier.
Zimmerman will arrive two days before the competition starts and is expecting to get a chance to look around the city. At the games, which is expected to see around 7,000 athletes from 170 countries, she aims to do her best.
The swimmer is one of three competing at the event from Saskatchewan. Zimmerman is one of six athletes on Team Canada from this province.
Zimmerman began swimming at the urging of her parents around four years ago. From there, she discovered she was good at it.
