BRYAN HENRY

BRYAN HENRYNORTH CAROLINA NORTH CAROLINA SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE STRIKES GOLD ATHLETE STRIKES GOLD IN ABU DHABI IN ABU DHABI

Bryan Henry began his Special Olympics North Carolina career competing in athletics in 2004. Before long, Bryan began playing soccer and basketball. Though he enjoys these sports, Special Olympics gave him the opportunity to discover his passion and talent in swimming.

He has competed with his local Special Olympics swimming team, the Raleigh Racers, and with his high school swim team. He currently swims on the North Carolina RAMS Master’s Swim Team in Raleigh. A sports enthusiast, Bryan loves watching the Carolina Hurricanes hockey games. He also enjoys spending time with his grandparents, playing cards and working his job at Harris Teeter. Bryan competed in swimming at the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle, bringing home three gold medals in 100m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle High Performance, and 200m Individual Medley. Bryan also won a bronze medal in the 4x25 Freestyle Relay with his fellow Team NC swimmers.* In 2019, Bryan competed in the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi. He took home GOLD medals in the 100m butterfly and the 200m individual medley as well as a SILVER medal in the 100m freestyle. We talked with Bryan to detail his swimming career and what he thought of Abu Dhabi.

Starting Block Magazine: How did you begin swimming? Bryan Henry: I began swimming when I was at the neighborhood pool in the summer around age 5. I swam with my head out of the water until middle school. My sister joined a year-round team when she was 8 and I wanted to join a team too. We found that Special Olympics had a team in Raleigh called the Raleigh Racers. I took swim lessons with my sister’s year-round coach, Dan Ohm to learn formal stroke technique. Raleigh Racers required two different strokes to join the team. My two strokes I worked on were my freestyle and backstroke.

SBM: Who inspired you the most throughout your swimming career? BH: Chris Underwood, my Raleigh Racers Swim Coach inspired me the most, because he has been my coach for 11 years. Chris has helped me with my strokes, competing at swim meets, and staying overnight at State Games. Through the years, Chris and I had become good friends. We both love to dance, go out to dinner, and going to sporting events. Chris took me on my first

airplane ride to Nationals for Special Olympics in Seattle, WA-July 2018.

SBM: What made swimming a passion of yours? BH: I enjoy getting in the water and swimming fast. Also I enjoy going to swim meets to compete against other swimmers. Special Olympics was my first competitive swim team and as I got better, I joined Raleigh Swimming Association in 2009. I swam on RSA for 4 years. I enjoyed swimming so much that I swam high school for my junior and senior years. Currently, I’m swimming with the Raleigh Area Masters and I have been on the team for almost 7 years.

SBM: Tell me about your proudest moment as an athlete. BH: My proudest moment as an athlete was cheering for my teammates. Cheering for them gives them encouragement and it makes me feel happy to see them succeed.

SBM: Tell me about a time when swimming challenged you and a lesson you learned from it. BH: My biggest challenge for me with swimming was learning how to put my head under the water. I was afraid of the deep end and drowning. I learned to do a flip off the diving board without my head going under the water. My brother showed me how to put my head under the water. Swimming gets a lot easier when you put your head under the water.

SBM: How did it feel representing your country in the 2019 Special Olympics World Games? BH: I felt a little bit nervous going out of the country for the first time, but once I got to Dubai, I felt excited to be swimming for the USA. It was an honor to represent the United States and having

lots of fun with my friends.

SBM: How did you prepare for your trip to Abu Dhabi to compete? BH: I did dryland 3-5 days a week, cross training such as jogging, hiking and biking, plus swimming 4-5 days a week. I ate a healthy diet such as fruits and vegetables, eliminating sodas.

SBM: How did you enjoy your time in Abu Dhabi? BH: I enjoyed going to the amusement park, the Dubai Mall, meeting Robin Roberts on Good Morning America at the Opening Ceremonies and swimming in the biggest Natatorium in the world. It was a fantastic facility. I got to see the Burj Khalifa and meet Captain America at the Burj al-Arab.

SBM: Aside from swimming, what are some of your other hobbies? BH: I love to go see the Carolina Hurricanes playing hockey. I also like to take my dogs for a walk. Also, I work at Harris Teeter in Holly Springs. I just got my driver’s license in July and I love driving to places. Visiting my grandparents, playing cards with them, and play golf with my grandfather are more fun times for me. Listening to music on my iPad is enjoyable to me.

SBM: What is something you would like everyone to know about the Special Olympics and its athletes? BH: Special Olympics gives me opportunities to make new friends, practice and compete in sports all year-round, and have lots of fun. Special Olympics provides a place where people with intellectual disabilities can compete on National and World levels. I have been blessed to swim at these levels through Special Olympics. Now my hope is for others to go to these levels.

To learn more about Special Olympics in your area, please visit SpecialOlympics.org/programs

* Information provided by Special Olympics USA

BIOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS (COURTESY OF RALEIGH RACERS SWIM TEAM)

Name: BRYAN HENRY Sport: Swimming Height: 6’2” Weight: 161 lbs. DOB: 11/23/1992 Birthplace: Raleigh, North Carolina Hometown: Apex, North Carolina High School: Apex High School

Special Olympic Experience

• 2017 SO North Carolina Summer Games GOLD - 100yd breast GOLD - 100yd fly GOLD - 50yd free

• 2018 SO North Carolina Summer Games 100M Free PR 1:00.55

• 2018 SO USA Games GOLD - 200M Individual Medley GOLD - 100M Fly GOLD - High Performace 100 SCM Free BRONZE - 4x25 Relay

• 2019 SO World Games Abu Dhabi GOLD - 100M Butterfly GOLD - 200M Individual Medley SILVER - 100M Freestyle

- NEW PR 57.40