Special Olympian won bronze recently in Canada Games tryouts
Published June 17 , 2009
By Martin C. Barry • TLN

Could Laval Special Olympics swimmer Andrew Perez be headed down the same path as Michael Phelps, the U.S swim team champ whose seven world records and 14 career Olympic gold medals make him the most decorated athlete ever to participate in the modern Olympics? Andrew’s mother and his trainers think so.
Goal set
Although Perez, a 20-year-old Chomedey resident, has struggled with autism, he’s also been one of several Special Olympics athletes from Laval who've competed in the Jeux du Québec regularly. Recently, he won two bronze medals while qualifying for the Canada Games. So what’s next?
“Our goal is international in Athens in 2011 ― that’s a goal we’ve set,” says his mother, Cathy. “Andrew shaved off at least 30 to 35 seconds off his time since last year. Phelps shaved three seconds off and he was doing back flips. So if he shaved off three seconds, but Andrew shaved off close to 30, that’s phenomenal. Can he do much better? I think he can.”
Making steady progress
After several years of going to the Jeux du Québec, Andrew did his first tryouts last year for the Canada Games, which are considered a stepping stone to the Olympics. Special Olympics athletes are invited to take part. “Special Olympics athletes will swim against other Special Olympics athletes from around Canada,” says Cathy. Last year on his first tryouts, he came in ninth, and since then he’s been working out with special trainers at the Centre du Sablon, which is across the street from his Bennett Avenue home.
Last weekend in Granby, he won two bronze medals in selective competitions to qualify for the Canada Games. Andrew was already a veteran in winning gold at the Special Olympics. Last weekend he finished third in the 100-metre backstroke and 100-metre crawl. While he missed achieving a second-place ranking by a mere two points, he now at least has the standing of a Canada Games reserve athlete. He’s been “fitted” for a uniform and “photographed” for the team picture in case another athlete drops out.
Help from coaches, trainers
The Canada Games will place Andrew in regular competition with swimmers who do not have disabilities, although other athletes who are handicapped also take part. He is ranked third in Quebec for his class in his sport under the banner of the Special Olympics. According to his mother, Andrew is thriving with the help of his Special Olympics coach, Peggy Barnes, as well as his swim trainer at Centre du Sablon, Anna Apostolakis, and his gym instructor, Patrick Cobello.
“He’s made big progress,” says Stephanie, who has worked with Andrew over the past eight months. She was a competitive swimmer for about 10 years. “I think I helped him out with his technique, but his mom was also definitely very good in developing his endurance. She’s been with him the whole time.
The right stuff
“Every day she’s practised with him,” she added. “I was giving him tips on how to improve his technique and swim more like a competitive swimmer.” On his aspirations to reach the Olympics, Stephanie agreed he has several of the necessary attributes. “He has a lot of ambition, he never complains during practice and he’s very determined, so I think he definitely has it,” she says.
Andrew attended Montreal's Summit School for autism since the age of six. He has been swimming for seven years, but started participating as a member of the Laval Special Olympics team only two years ago. While the Perez family have a pool of their own, the Centre du Sablon, has a much larger swimming facility and has played an important role in the development of his swimming talent. Andrew also first learned to swim at the centre.
Du Sablon’s assistance
Centre du Sablon was also helpful in allowing Andrew and the other Special Olympics athletes the use of a designated special training lane at the pool. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Andrew has excelled as a writer. He was one of four students who wrote a script at school, which was then used as the basis for a 45-minute short film. It won at three film festivals, the last one being the Sprout Film Fest, an annual event held in New York City that showcases movies by, for and about people with developmental disabilities.