INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) – For the second year in a row, the IU Natatorium is hosting athletes from all over the world this weekend at the World Para Swimming World Series.
Indianapolis is the second stop of the year for the international swim meets. Terre Haute’s Evan Austin enjoys having the meet in his home state as he trains toward his 3rd Paralympic Games.
Everyone in the pool at this meet competes with a physical, visual or intellectual impairment. Both male and female swimmers are classified on their functional ability to perform each swim stroke.
“Everyone has their struggles,” said Austin before a preliminary swim in the 100-meter breaststroke. “This is our way of showing that we accept that. This is the life we have to live. But we're here to live it and we're here to make the most of it and we're going to have some fun in the water."
Austin spends most of his time in a wheelchair due to spastic paraplegia, a genetic and progressive muscle stiffness and contraction in the legs. He inherited the condition from his mother.
“In a lot of ways, I feel lucky because my mom had a perspective of what I was going through my entire life. So in my household, nothing was new."
The pool provided Austin freedom and purpose.
“I dealt with bullies through school and I was just kind of standoffish for a large portion of my childhood. It kind of gave me this place to be accepted. I could just put my face in the water and I didn't have to listen to anything. At the same time, I could be part of something."
Austin has swum in the Paralympics twice, in both London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
“It’s truly indescribable. For an athlete who competes in a sport where that's the apex, you can't get any higher than the games. You kind of know you've arrived after you make it to that team."
His best finish in the Paralympics is 6th place in multiple events. He is 25 years old and considers himself a professional swimmer, receiving a monthly stipend as a member of Team USA. He badly wants a medal in Tokyo in 2020.
“I don't care what color the medal is, I just want something to hold when I come home."
Home is Terre Haute, where Austin graduated from South Vigo High School. He is currently finishing his degree in recreation and sports management at Indiana State.
Admission is free and open to the public for the World Para Swimming World Series, which concludes Saturday.