Down Syndrome Down Under Swimming Organisation (DSDUSO)

On 30th May, 2008 the Australian Down Syndrome Swimming team of 20 comprising of 8 girls and 12 boys from all over Australia joined together in Noosa for Training and "Get to Know each other Camp". Many of the team already knew each other as they had been part of the Australian team which has travelled to Taiwan and Ireland in previous years.

Phoebe travelled up on the plane with the other 2 girls from Victoria and one of the coach's on the team, Emily also from Melbourne. The minimum age to be in the team is 16 so Phoebe is the youngest in Australia.

On arriving in a very wet Noosa they were met by the team Head Delegate, Sue Stanley who has a son also in the team. They all stayed together in a camp style accommodation and trained at the Noosa Aquatic Centre. During this time many time trials were done amongst the team and decisions made as to what events they would all be competing in at the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships in Portugal in November 2008.

Between torrential downpours and unseasonal cold temperatures they engaged in many team building activities and trained some more. They were presented with parts of their Australian uniform by the DSDUSO Patron, Hayden Kenny (Grant Kenny's father, a past Australian Ironman champion like Grant) and an ex Australian rugby player Willy Carne.

The whole 3 day weekend was very special and the team is very much looking forward to some success in Portugal.

Phoebe's will be competing in: 25mt FR, 25mt BR, 25mt BK, 25mt FL, 50mt BR, 100 IM and 2 relay teams.

The team travel again to Noosa on in September for another 3 days of training and finishing off with an official uniform presentation with more celebrities and media coverage.

From then its full steam ahead until Phoebe and the team fly out to Portugal on the 23 November, 2008.  Phoebe will not meet up with her family in Portugal until the 26 November.