Micky's Pembrokeshire
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Tamara is a beacon light in special needs sport
Tamara O’Leary is only 21 years of age but she is fully committed to helping those with disabilities as she is heavily involved with the Pembrokeshire Special Needs Gymnastics Club, the Pembrokeshire Puffins swimming squad, works as an LSA with the children at Portfield School in Haverfordwest – and is also a part-time lifeguard at Milford Haven Leisure Centre!
Tamara takes her first steps in special needs sport
Tamara set out in the Pembrokeshire Disability Gymnastics Club because her school friend Victoria helped her mum Jean there – and Tamara went along for an evening, took to working with the young gymnasts like a duck to water, and has been involved ever since. That was when she was 18 and now, three years later, still attends at the headquarters in Thornton, Milford Haven, working with Amy Yelland, who is now head coach. They have the very young gymnasts from 4.30pm to 5.30pm, with the emphasis on real fun and getting children involved and confident, using things like balances, good shapes and forward rolls. It must work because they have a waiting list of would-be gymnasts who want to enrol.
These are followed by the mixed ability group, where they encourage fitness, flexibility and floor exercises, and then more accomplished gymnasts, which is brilliant because some of those involved have really developed their skills and are honing their Welsh team routines and advanced techniques.
Plenty of action
Tamara has passed her Level One Coach’s course, which helps her deal with risk assessment and support techniques, and is looking to move onto Level Two coaching as soon as she can enrol on a suitable course. She goes with the PSNG Club annually to Poole in Dorset for their special competition, where they now meet up with friends made from previous years, the Welsh Championships in Cardiff and the Rotary Competitions, where the finals take place in Cardiff. Tamara and Co have also been to the Special Olympics in Leicester, where she met her boyfriend Chris Davies, who was helping out there with his brother Jack, from the Swansea Stingrays Swimming Club.
Really in the swim!
She and Chris now work together in coaching the Pembrokeshire Puffins, the swimming club based in Pembroke that caters for swimmers with a disability, and which meets every Sunday from 3pm to 5pm. They also hold three sessions each year in Haverfordwest and are happy to coach all ages and abilities from complete novices to Welsh internationals like David Williams, who is superb at all strokes and provides inspiration for everyone else. They attend galas across South Wales and hold their own gala each November, where the emphasis is very much on participation for all. Tamara’s parents are also great – she says that mum Ann and dad Steve, well known for his involvement at Haverfordwest RFC alongside her brother David, are always ready to give help whenever it is needed.
Loves the water
That Tamara should be involved in swimming was perhaps only natural because she went for her first lessons as a swimmer and loved every moment. She didn’t join the local squad because she was too young but still enjoys swimming herself on a weekly basis, as well as teaching ‘Swimfit’ on Thursdays at Milford Haven Leisure Centre, where she helps people develop their stroke and breathing techniques, sometimes on a one-to-one basis. Ask Tamara whether she can teach almost anyone to swim and she chuckles, and answers in the affirmative!
Tamara works as a lifeguard at the Leisure Centre most weekends and treats the job very seriously because she once had to go into the water and rescue a young girl in difficulties, with Tamara’s flip-flops floating on the water after she came out of the pool! She also works at Portfield School as an LSA and again loves her work with youngsters who have special needs.
And finally . . .
It is very refreshing in a time when young people are roundly criticised for the way that they behave to come across Tamara O’Leary because there can be very few people of any age who are so committed to what they do. Tamara is determined to see that those with special needs and disabilities are included in sport and PembrokeshireSport.co.uk can only wish her continued success in the future because her contribution is enormous!
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