LEXINGTON, Ky. — A swim team in Lexington is able to resume much-needed lessons since the pandemic restrictions have been lifted.


What You Need To Know

  • Swim team on Lexington excited for pools to reopen

  • Team has several member who live with autism and swimming help

  • Janna Ghibaudy says she gets to make friends who are similar to her

  • More than 80,000 Kentuckians live with autism in the state

Several members of the team who live with autism explain swimming helps foster a social outlet. 

34-year-old Janna Ghibaudy is among them. Since pools reopened she has been perfecting her backstroke.

“This is like my long time I’ve been swimming,” Ghibaudy said.

Her long time is almost three years minus the pandemic which forced the lanes to close last year.

“Just hanging out with my friends and I like to swim so hard,” Ghibaudy said in between her laps she does at the YMCA in Lexington.

“My mom’s always brought me here when it’s swim practice all the time,” Ghibaudy said.

Among the many challenges, Ghibaudy lives with an autism spectrum disorder which she has had since she was young.

“Each one of them has some physical and some mental challenges cause most of their disabilities are mental disabilities,” said Vibert Forsythe, a parent and coach.

He and another coach volunteer their time to guide the team.

Janna Ghibaudy, center, posed with two other team members at the YMCA pool in Lexington. (Spectrum News 1/Khyati Patel)

“Quite honest, we joined the team probably about 18 years ago,” Forsythe said. “And we had swim coaches and over the years, they have left and as a parent. We wanted the team to consider to continue, myself on tom wanted him to continue, so when we don't have regular coaches we fill in.”

Forsythe’s son also lives with autism. 

According to the Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation, swimming provides a form of therapy for people with autism. It can also improve speech, coordination, social skills, self-esteem, and cognitive processing. 

“Swimming is a social outlet for them also. and so winning is important but it's not the most important thing,” Forsythe said. “And we've tried to strive to let them understand, do better than you did last time. Winning is important, but if you do better than you did the last time, you're winning.”

According to the Kentucky Autism Prevalence, more than 80,000 people live with autism in the commonwealth.

“It’s really helpful when you swimming when you swim really hard and practice so much. I like to do that a lot cuz I like to swim and it’s really good for you,” Ghibaudy said.