Ohio teen to compete at World Deaf Swimming Championships in Taiwan

[Miss-Delectable]

cleveland.com: Everything Cleveland

Kristoffer Lauderbaugh will race against the world's best deaf swimmers as he represents the United States at the World Deaf Swimming Championships Aug. 9-18 in Taipei, Taiwan.

Lauderbaugh, 19, of Concord Township, swam on the varsity team for Riverside High School in Painesville, and he is on the swim team at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., where he studies mathematics.

When did you first get involved in swimming?
I started swimming when I was very young, before I could walk. I got bacterial meningitis when I was 6 months old and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Doctors said I would never be able to walk, but I strengthened my legs through swimming and could walk by age 4. I started swimming competitively when I was 10.

And while I of course enjoy winning, what I like most about swimming is that it's fun and it teaches me to be strong.

How are you preparing for the competition?

I am training at home this summer, so for now my coach, Bill Snape, sends me e-mails telling me what my goals are for the day, and each week it gets harder. During the school year I normally swim about two hours a day, but now I'm swimming about four hours a day. Another exercise I do on most days is 50 push-ups with a 25-pound weight on my back.

What do you enjoy about competing with other hearing-impaired athletes?

The events are more visual, because they use signals like lights to indicate the start of a race. Competitions in high school were tough because I couldn't hear the buzzer, so I would sometimes miss the start. And the start can be the most important part of the race.

What are your plans for after the championship?

The Summer Deaflympics are in Taiwan in 2009, and I'd like to compete in those games. That would require more training because I know I need to have a perfect time to try out. But my studies are also very important to me. I have only completed my first year at Gallaudet.

My dream is to work at NASA. If that doesn't work out, I would like to teach at Gallaudet and maybe even coach the swim team there.

 

[denisel1238]

Kristoffer is going for the gold at 2009 Deaflympics!

Gallaudet University sophomore Kristoffer Lauderbaugh, was recently selected to the United States National Deaf Team to compete at the World Deaf Swimming Championships. Lauderbaugh was one of 12 swimmers aged 14 to 24 who will spend the summer training for six days of competition in Taipei, Taiwan, August 11-18, 2007. The United States Men's swim team placed 6th in the world in the 800 freestyle relay. With that under his belt, Kristoffer is now in intense training for the 2009 Deaflympics. Time Trials for the deaflympics will be held in Palantine, Illinois July 2008.

The United States national deaf team represents different geographical areas as well as different communication modes, and different hearing technology. Some of the athletes use American Sign Language, some speak; some prefer not to use hearing aids and some have cochlear implants. All are deaf in the water. They truly reflect the diversity and range amongst the deaf population, but all are dedicated athletes and hard working students.

Lauderbaugh had a rough start to life. At six months of age Kris contracted bacterial meningitis. He almost lost his life. Lauderbaugh lost his hearing and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsey. He was projected to never walk, sit up, or be able to take care of himself. He was determined to prove them all wrong. Kris pulled himself up, tore apart furniture to make himself a walker and strengthen his legs. He wanted to swim from an early age and was a fish in the water. He didn’t walk until he was four, couldn’t jump until he was six, and couldn’t run until he was eight. Nothing ever held him back. He was determined to be active and whole.

Lauderbaugh has been swimming competitively since he was ten years old. A member of the Gallaudet Aqua Bison, Kris is coached by Bill Snape, who was selected by a committee as the 2007 Coach for the United States World Deaf Swimming Team. Kris is a member of USA swimming, USA Deaf Sports Federation, and United States Deaf Swimming. Lauderbaugh was a member of the Riverside High School varsity swim team his Junior and Senior year under Coach’s Franz, Franz, and Snyder. Kris also served as a member of the Eastlake Vikings summer swim league under Coach Greg Tompkins (2005-2006) as well as a member of Wickliffe Water Devils under Coach Becky Rowell (2000-2004). Lauderbaugh currently attends Gallaudet University in Washington, DC as a sophomore swimmer on their Varsity Team. Kris has already beat four of their pool relay records in 2007 (one of them twice!), and 5 of them in 2008.Kris spent all of 2007 training for, and participating in the World Deaf Swimming Championship. He seems to have a gift for swimming and believes that this gift comes from God. Lauderbaugh believes that God’s gifts are for His glory, and plans to use his gifts at the Deaflympics in 2009!

As much as he loves swimming, Kris believes that his academic preparation must come first. Through focus and training Lauderbaugh is learning to juggle the demands of college classes with his training. Kris is a Optimist Local essay winner (2006). Along with essay writing, he enjoys playing billiards, bowling, cycling, and baseball.

The Deaflympics will allow deaf athletes an opportunity to compete with none of the communication barriers that may exist when they compete with athletes who can hear. Some minor adaptations are made, such as substituting auditory cues with visual ones, but otherwise there are no “special” rules. Many Deaf people consider themselves to have a unique culture. The Deaflympics provides athletic competition and a chance to celebrate that culture all within an international context.

United States Deaf Swimming, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organizaton, has been appointed by the United States Deaf Sports Federation to identify deaf swimmers, select a national team, and provide the support necessary for success in international events including the Deaflympics in Taipei, Taiwan 2009. FINA, International Deaf Sports Committee, and the US Olympic Commission sanction the World Deaf Swimming Championships, however no funding is provided to the team by these organizations. Each athlete is obliged to raise the necessary $7,000 to pay for his or her expenses.

For more information on United States Deaf Swimming and how you can help please visit USDS - United States Deaf Swimming. You can download sponsership forms from their website. Although the sponsorship goes to the entire team, each individual swimmer is responsible for fundraising their portion. Be sure to write Kristoffer Lauderbaugh on your check so that they know who told you about USDS! You can also check out Kristoffer Lauderbaugh's website at deaf swimmer | World Championships Taipei Taiwan 2007, or his myspace at MySpace.com - Doing College Work plus BROKE FIVE RECORDS!!!!! - 20 - Male - Concord Township, Ohio - www.myspace.com/padrechaargerfan. If you prefer to donate via paypal there are links on the top of his webpage, and paypal donation click icons on myspace to donate securely over the internet. Please help Kris and the other USDS swimmers go for the gold at the 2209 Deaflympics!

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