Eden Prairie Special Olympian finds pleasure, success in swimming

There’s a superb likelihood that Brandon Leu is swimming when you’re studying this. 

Leu, an Eden Prairie resident and Special Olympian, swims daily, both at Life Time Fitness in Eden Prairie or the V3 Center in Minneapolis. His dedication paid off in June on the Special Olympics Minnesota state swim meet, the place he received gold within the 50-meter butterfly and bronze within the 100-meter particular person medley, which options the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle in succession.

“It was good for me,” Leu mentioned of the state meet.

Leu, who has autism, competes for Mr. Blake’s Wavemakers, a staff coached by Blake Beatnik le Saint, who additionally runs Mr. Blake’s Swim Academy, an adaptive swim college. 

While working with private coach Ben Foss at Life Time Fitness, Leu needed to hitch a swim staff and reached out to the Special Olympics. The e-mail discovered its method to le Saint.

‘Swimming is sort of a hug‘

In the e-mail, Leu wrote about working exhausting over the previous 12 months on his swimming. He additionally shared that his mom and father died when he was 11 and 5, respectively. They cherished the water, he mentioned, and the love of swimming he discovered is one thing of which they might be proud.

“(Swimming) is more than a pastime or a sport for him,” le Saint mentioned of Leu. “It’s therapy. It’s part of his personality.”

Leu’s aunt and guardian, Elizabeth Voss, taught him to swim when he was 12. Over time, Voss noticed adjustments in her nephew, as he grew to become extra snug within the water and extra trusting of others after his mother and father’ deaths.

According to the National Institutes of Health, swimming releases oxytocin, generally referred to as the “love hormone” or “cuddle hormone” for its capacity to assist folks construct belief with and bond with others.

Voss noticed the way it helped Leu.

“Water made all the difference,” she mentioned. “Swimming is like a hug.”

Beyond swimming

Foss has been coaching Leu for a few years. Their work contains swimming, but additionally weightlifting and different sports activities like basketball. Leu was Foss’ first consumer.

“We just got magically paired together and never looked back,” Foss mentioned.

In addition to his athletic pursuits, Leu can be a musician who performs cello, piano and guitar. 

Foss, who has served as an aide for Leu throughout a guitar class he took at an area faculty and has seen him carry out, is impressed by his expertise.

“It’s cool to hear him play music,” Foss mentioned.

When requested who a few of his favourite composers are, Leu named Mozart and Beethoven.

“Guitar is my favorite (instrument to play),” he added, although generally his favourite adjustments.

An entire season

Now 30 and having accomplished his first season on a Special Olympics-affiliated swim staff, Leu will preserve engaged on his expertise within the pool with le Saint, Foss and his pals on the Wavemakers.

According to Voss, Leu usually says “It’s all about the practice.”

Sometimes, that follow can flip right into a medal or two.