When the news was official, Mary Borman qualified to swim in the upcoming USA Games, Mary described her feeling as, “triumphant.” Clear about her aspirations, Mary shares, “I want to be like Katie Ledecky.”
Mary’s Children’s Therapy TEAM Speech-Language Pathologists, Brenda Martinez and Jennifer Araujo, fondly remember the day Mary first shared her big news with them. They knew Mary’s dream of making the USA Team, and her strong work ethic, so this made the news even sweeter.
Mary has been swimming since the age of four. What she remembers most about her very first swim meet was that it was FUN! With every stroke, her teammates cheered her on; she was hooked.
While Mary has made it to the “big league” of Special Olympics, she shares the sport has not always come easily to her. She has had to work hard to get stronger in order to be competitive.
Mary has an intensive, five day a week training regimen including once a week cross training out of the water. Mary’s swim coaches, Coach Jessie Garrison, her high school swim team Coach Michael Kaminiski and Coach Anita primarily helped Mary focus on improving her strength and speed. She is now a member of the University of Arkansas swim club.
Amongst the busyness of life, school (University of Arkansas EMPOWER program), homework, and dance lesson, Mary Borman finds peace in the water. She shares, “It makes me feel free and clears my mind.” Mary credits her parents for supporting her journey to the USA Games in Seattle and for introducing her to a sport she will be able to enjoy her whole life.