Four Geelong Swimming Club (GSC) athletes will represent Australia at the 2022 Virtus Oceania Asia Games (OA Games 2022). Ryan McGrane, Phoebe Mitchell, Bradley Doolan and Madeline Fox have been selected as part of a 41 -athlete team to compete at the Games on 5 – 11 November in Brisbane.
The 2022 Virtus Oceania Asia Games is an international multisport event for elite athletes with intellectual impairment and will be delivered by Sports Inclusion Australia. Athletes from 25 nations will compete in swimming, cycling, badminton, basketball, judo, rowing, sailing, taekwondo and triathlon. It is the first time an international Virtus event has been held in the region.
GSC coach Sadat-Jon Hussain has been selected as part of the Australian coaching team. “Inclusion is a corner stone of our club.” said Hussain who was appointed Coach of the Australian Down Syndrome team in 2014, 2016 and 2018. ”To coach this national team and for 4 of our athletes to qualify is a highlight of my career.” he said. Having been awarded Disability Coach of the Year at the 2020 Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Awards, Hussain has been working with swimmers of all abilities for over 10 years.
GSC Club Captain Bradley Doolan along with Down Syndrome world record holder Phoebe Mitchell and Australian Special Olympics gold medalist Madeline Fox have represented Australian on previous occasions and welcome the return of international events after a hiatus during COVID. Ryan McGrane will join the team having recently returned from the Australian Special Olympics in Hobart where he claimed gold in 200 breaststroke and bronze in 100 breaststroke.
The team of GSC athletes will be supported by the GSC Foundation, a charitable organisation founded by the club to support swimmers with disability to overcome barriers to participation. ”The Foundation enables us to assist athletes to achieve their goals; we thank JP Flynn Builders for partnering with the Foundation.” said GSC President Glenn Benson ”The whole club will be behind our swimmers and can’t wait to see them race in the green and gold.”