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Richard’s really in the swim!
Richard Young was the only Pembrokeshire swimmer to represent Wales in the recent Special Olympiad at Leicester and he came back with two gold medals as proof of his swimming prowess - and he is now looking at accepting the challenge of taking part in the annual swim from Tenby to Caldey Island next summer.
Richard is 24 years old and attended previous Special Olympiads Portsmouth, Cardiff and Glasgow before the recent successes at Leicester, where large crowds outside County Hall cheered Richard, and the gymnasts who were also taking part from Pembrokeshire. They all stayed in Leicester for the whole week and had a great time, with Richard joining the gymnasts in returning with a heap of medals.
Golden performances
He won gold in the 50 metres freestyle as he used his power and speed to good effect – and doubled up with a gold in the relay, plus a bronze in the 50 metre backstroke as well as a creditable fourth place in a longer backstroke event. It was fitting reward for all the hard work that Richard puts in at training with the Pembrokeshire Puffins at Pembroke Leisure Centre on Sundays and in Tenby Pool with dad Steve every Wednesday.
Steve and Richard’s mum Heather are Richard’s willing taxi drivers to all his sport and older sister Donna is also involved as she teaches drama in classes with youngsters who have special educational needs. His parents were at poolside when Richard stood on the winners’ rostrum and for all of them, especially Richard, it was a very proud moment indeed!
Sporting all-rounder
Richard has always enjoyed sport and he has taken part in athletics, basketball and football from the time he was a nipper in Birmingham, where Steve was chairman of the Birmingham Special Olympics committee before the family moved to the Tenby area about five years ago. When Steve introduced Richard to swimming he took to it straight away and because they were so close to all the major competition places Richard was swimming competitively almost every weekend, winning his first freestyle event at 13 years of age.
The Puffins meet in Pembroke every Sunday and have around 30 regular members who benefit from taking part – and everyone is guaranteed a warm welcome. They are hosting a swimming gala where other clubs like the Swansea Stingrays, 
Caerphilly Dragons, Cardiff Chameleons and Bridgend Sharks will compete, to be held at the splendid new facility at Haverfordwest on 28th November - and Steve is also aiming to establish a swimming club for those with special needs at Tenby in the near future where Richard can further develop his skills. At the moment, Richard’s best time for the 50 metres freestyle is 42.8 seconds, with a personal best of 54 seconds in the 50 metres backstroke, both very creditable times indeed.
Richard takes part in Tenderfoot Games
Not content with his swimming, Richard is also preparing for the ‘Tenderfoot Games’, where he joins others with special needs in a team sponsored by the Rotary Clubs from Saundersfoot and Tenby, taking part in boccia, football and basketball shooting. They are training every Friday evening for up to 12 weeks in readiness for the big day, which takes place at Newport (Gwent).
Biggest challenge so far
But an even bigger challenge will be the Tenby to Caldey Island Swim, which involves a distance of some three miles. Richard watched the swim at close hand this year and wants to give it a try. If he succeeds he would be the first swimmer with special needs to achieve the feat and he will start training in March because it has much different demands than race swimming – and whether he reaches Caldey or not he will be a winner just by taking part in such a big challenge.
Richard has already shown that he has used his undoubted skills, allied to a great deal of hard work and family encouragement – and PembrokeshireSport.co.uk wishes this modest and likeable young man continued success in all he does in the future!
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