Thierry Middleton’s passion is swimming
Pat Payton, Sports editor Thierry Middleton hasn’t grown gills yet, but it may happen soon with the amount time he spends in and around water.
He’s a St. Marys lifeguard, working 40 hours weekly, a member of the Stratford Kinsmen YMCA Aquatic Club (SKYAC), the coach of the St. Marys summer swim team, and plans to coach a Masters swim team in town this year as well.
In a recent interview with the Journal Argus, the 20-year-old Middleton says he will be in and around water at least 60 hours per week this summer.
“I grew up swimming in a pool, so swimming is just part of my life,” he said. “I don’t know how I would live without swimming . . . I would be lost.”
He has been a lifeguard in St. Marys for the past three years. He guarded at the Stratford YMCA pool for four years prior to that.
Middleton started with the Stratford-based SKYAC swim team when he was just nine, and starts his 11th season with the club this year. He became a member about two weeks after arriving in Canada with his family from Nigeria over
10 years ago.
With the club, he has set several 15-and-over boys swimming records.
Currently with SKYAC, Middleton practices about five to six times a week at
both the YMCA pool in Stratford (mornings) and the new indoor pool at the
Pyramid Recreation Centre (evenings). He hopes to compete in three or four
swim meets with SKYAC this summer.
Thierry’s younger brother Yves, 17, and sister Lara, 15, are former SKYAC
team members. Almost daily, for many years, the family drove to Stratford
for practices, usually leaving St. Marys at 4:45 a.m.
Middleton, who has his Level 1 coaching certificate, has coached the St.
Marys summer swim team the past couple of years. Last summer, the team was
comprised of about 15 swimmers, 14 years and younger.
Monday, Wednesday practices
He was planning to hold the first practice for a Masters swim team (18 years
and older) on Monday, May 5. That team will practice Monday and Wednesday
evenings at the indoor pool from 9 to 10 p.m.
Interested swimmers should contact Andrea Slade, St. Marys aquatics director
(aslade@town.stmary.on.ca).
“I don’t know how many will come out, but I’ve been told there’s a lot of
interest,” Middleton says.
“During the summer, (the Masters swimmers) can compete with the kids (youth
swim team) in summer swim meets if they want to. Hopefully, next September,
I’ll have somebody who can take over for me when I leave (for school).”
The Masters swim team will be registered, and it’s going to be affiliated
with SKYAC. “Most Masters clubs are affiliated with a club team,” he notes.
Wins draw for first swim
Speaking of his club team, Thierry Middleton was recently able to give
former and current SKYAC swimmers a treat. He won the draw to take the very
first dip in the new indoor pool on April 16, and invited them in for a swim
that memorable day.
The prize was actually a surprise to Middleton because his mom Trixie
purchased the tickets and put his name on them.
“Being his mom, I knew how much swimming means to Thierry, and bought the
raffle tickets for the first swim as a surprise for him,” she explained. “He
was so thrilled to have the honour of swimming in the St. Marys pool first.”
Middleton dedicated the first swim to his siblings and dad, who “sacrificed
countless hours to his swimming passion.”
“It was really cool,” he said.
Swims for varsity team
Thierry Middleton, meanwhile, recently completed his freshmen year at
Laurentian University in Sudbury, where is studying Sports
Psychology/Education.
A member of Laurentian’s varsity swim team, the Voyageurs, he competes in
the butterfly and individual medley events.
A family affair
Aquatic activities are a family affair with the Middletons.
Thierry’s dad Andy is the treasurer of the London water polo team, and
enjoys aqua-fit classes there. In addition to being SKYAC members, brother
Yves is a lifeguard and instructor in Stratford, and sister Lara is an avid
water polo player in London.
Lara Middleton will be competing at the water polo nationals in Regina later
this summer.
She is also hoping to be part of a DCVI swim team next year.