Taylor's 'Swim journey to Berlin'

Hi Everyone. My name is Taylor MacKenzie; my friends call me 'Smiler.' I'm 15 and live in Dundee, Scotland. My passion is Swimming. "I'm proud to have been selected to represent Team GB at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin as a swimmer from 12th to 25th June 2023, but I need your help."

Taylor has a diagnosis of Autism and Learning Disabilities, which makes learning everyday tasks and schoolwork a challenge. Each weekday evening and Saturday morning, you can catch Taylor training hard with her swim club Monifieth as she prepares for the seemingly never-ending Club, Regional and National competitions.

In August, she travelled to Leeds in England to compete in the final qualifying heats of the Summer Series of Sports swimming championship for the World Games, coming home with three gold medals from three races, which were considered alongside her other swimming achievements throughout the year. As a result, she is very excited and 'over the moon" to be invited to compete as a member of Team GB.

There will be 87 GB athletes competing, but Taylor is the only Scot chosen to swim and the youngest athlete in the Team. She was also the youngest swimmer, age nine, to compete at the Special Olympics, held in Sheffield in 2017, where she won three gold medals and a bronze.

Taylor, age 9, with her parents and medals won in 2017

The World games are one of the most important events on the Special Olympics GB calendar for athletes with Autism and those with Learning Disabilities, which takes place every four years. Berlin will see a total of 7,000 athletes over 26 events, representing 170 countries taking part.

Taylor's dad says, "Her swim journey began at age three. Her mother took her to the local pool in Dundee, and Taylor has never looked back. Over the years, this journey has been as traumatic and challenging as it has been exciting and rewarding, with a constant roller coaster of emotions and self-doubt to become more confident in her own ability, which has gotten her to where she is today. It has never been an easy journey for Taylor. Still, over the years, she has broken down some perceived beliefs about people with learning disabilities, showing how competitive and determined athletes they can be.

Taylor loves swimming and sees the pool as her sanctuary from those less-than-happy experiences she lives through daily. Getting through her day is always a challenge.

Swimming has given her a voice that has opened up a whole new world, helped with her coping skills and self-esteem and offered her a purpose and newfound inner strength. She now has more of an understanding of her disability through swimming. She has developed a positive attitude about the time she spends in the pool, where she shows excellent focus on training and competing.

This positivity and self-worth are reflected in the many hurdles she has had to overcome in and out of the water; she has learned over time to accept her successes with humility and perceived failures as challenges, all done with a keen, if not quirky, sense of humour.

Taylor is wearing her three gold medals from Leeds 2022

She says about the freedom she feels in the water. "I don't feel less than others. It doesn't matter if I'm not perfect or winning every race. I feel good if I've done my best; nobody judges me or my disability; it's where I feel happy and can be myself."

Swimming has allowed Taylor to make and sustain a small group of friends. This newfound confidence was rewarded when she was recently asked to take a peer leadership role within her Swim Club. The dream of competing at the highest level as a Special Olympian and representing her country drives Taylor to want to develop as an athlete.

Some of Taylor's successes to date include:

Age nine in 2017 and 2018, being named Runner-Up' at the Dundee Sports Awards of the Year.

Club Age Group Champion for the Years 2018 & 2019.

National Schools Disability Champion and 'Top Girl' for 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022.

Selection to her first 'Mainstream' International Competition 2022.

Taylor's mum Lisa, says. "As parents, we are delighted that all the hard work and dedication Taylor has put into her swimming over the years is being rewarded. We couldn't be more proud of our girl for achieving her place in Team GB.

We have created this page to raise funds to help Taylor reach her dream as a Special Olympian and get her started on her 'Swim journey to Berlin.'

Unfortunately, there is limited funding for this event. We are hoping to raise £2,500 towards the required 'Contribution Fee,' which will go towards all travel, accommodation, sports kit and other expenses, including pre-games training and competition. If you cannot donate, please share Taylor's story. All support is very much appreciated. We will keep everyone updated on Taylor's progress throughout her time in Berlin.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story - Taylor xxxx

#TeamSOGB #Berlin2023 #UnbeatableTogether