After having a stroke at two years old, Jordan found friendship, purpose and strength through para swimming. In the water, movement became a way to be active, belong, travel, race and be a role model for others with physical disabilities.
Jordan’s movement story begins in the water.
After having a stroke at two years old, physical activity became especially important. Swimming gave Jordan a way to be active, move with strength, and feel what the body could do.
“Swimming allows me to do this,” Jordan says. “Most of my friends I have met through swimming. It gives me purpose.”
Jordan first loved the water during family swims at Sauble Beach. The waves, the feeling of being in the water, and the freedom of swimming stayed with them. Later, city lessons helped build the basics. Then a Therapeutic Recreation Therapist at KidsAbility in Guelph suggested trying the Guelph Marlins swim club, which had a para development program.
At first, Jordan’s parents simply wanted their child to learn how to swim. It worked. Around 2017, Jordan began competitive swimming.
The pool became a place of training, friendship, and confidence. Jordan trains up to six times a week, beginning with warm-ups and stretches before spending an hour to an hour and a half in the water. A practice usually includes about 1,500 metres, with many 50s and 100s.
Jordan loves the feeling of racing. “Being able to race is an amazing feeling,” they say.
Swimming has also given Jordan a chance to be visible to others. “I want to be a role model for others who have physical disabilities,” Jordan says. “I want to show them that you can do things.”
That became real when Jordan helped a young boy with a physical disability during lessons. They connected because the boy saw someone who looked like him and could swim. That moment stayed with Jordan.
There have been setbacks, including arm surgery and the pandemic, which reduced training and made swimming harder physically and emotionally. But Jordan kept returning to the water.
One of Jordan’s proudest achievements was making Team Canada for the World Para Swimming Championships in Portugal.
“I move for friendship,” Jordan says. “I also move to belong in the world. I move to be strong.”
Jordan moves for community.