World-record swimmer Kate Gibbs remains modest

Elli Morris/Chesterfield Observer Kate Gibbs, born with no right arm from the elbow down, competes locally with all swimmers.

Kate Gibbs is both a reluctant and modest champion. "I hate bragging about myself," she says.

The 15-year-old Clover Hill High School sophomore added five National Swimming records to her resume in the State Championship Meet in Manassas on February 24.

Amazingly, she lowered the United States 100-meter freestyle, 50 freestyle, 400 individual medley, 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle records in this one meet.

"I already had the 100 and 200 national butterfly records," she admitted. She later confessed that the Pan Am records in the 50and 200-meter butterfly also slipped into her trophy case last December.

"I never really wanted to swim," she confessed. But her father, Lee Gibbs, was a swimming coach, and both of her older brothers swam competitively. (Her oldest brother Jake swam for Old Dominion University.)

"I got dragged to all the swim meets and finally took my first swimming lessons at three and began to swim competitively at four. At first I kind of swam in circles." she giggled,

Kate was born with no right arm from the elbow down and competes in the S-9 category for amputees. She swims in meets against able-bodied swimmers for the Swim Quest Swim Club while swimming against the times of other disabled swimmers across the country.

"I still kind of swim the back stroke in circles" she admitted. "I start out swimming down one side of the lane and end up swimming down the other side. I have been very competitive against able-bodied swimmers, particularly in the fly (Butterfly stroke), but now there are some girls who are extra fast, and I don't do as well."

She swims her individual events as well as participating in team relay events for Swim Quest.

Kate has accumulated all of her records against older and far more experienced swimmers all across the country. "My biggest competitor is from California. She's 27 years old."

While practicing daily and competing in swim meets year-round, Kate still finds time to serve with the Sophomore Advisory Club, the SCA and French Club. Scholastically, French and Chemistry are her best subjects and she "maintains mostly A's."

Her favorite food is french fries, she likes all music except rap, likes to read and typically just likes to "Hang out with my friends."

She credits her switch from the Poseidon Swim Club to the tutelage of Swim Quest Coach Dudley Duncan for her remarkable swims. "She's an outstanding individual." Duncan shared. "And actually could be better if she didn't try to be the best that she can be in all of the other things she does."

Her strengths? "The butterfly. She's great at underwater movements. She has a talent for streamlining herself," Duncan offers.

The coach admits that Kate has inspired him with her attitude. "We went to the National Championship Paralympics Meet in Portland Oregon last August. There is no way to describe the feeling these kids gave me. They are just so positive."

Gibbs set a World Record for the 200-meter butterfly in that meet; an accomplishment that she failed to mention when interviewed.

The quiet, unassuming young girl was adopted from Korea by Debbie and Lee Gibbs when she was six months old.

"I did not know my birth parents, but last year I got a letter from them with a picture of my two little sisters (aged four and six.) They just wanted me to know they had adopted me out because they felt I could have a better life in America," she said. "They hoped I was doing all right. I wrote them back that my life was wonderful."

Rainbow Games March 26

The Virgina Rainbow Olympic Games swimming events will be held on Sunday, March 26 at the Midlothian YMCA.

Swimming events will be held 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. and will include the 13-yard swim, 25-yard backstroke as well as 25-, 50and 100-yard freestyle and a raft relay. Any young person between the ages of 6-21, who has a physical or visual disability with a normal level of intelligence can participate.

More information is available at www.rainbowolympicgames.com or contact Sharon Brown at 559-5782.