A roller-coaster year of ups-and-downs has taken another downward swing.
Just weeks removed from a stirring four-medal performance at the Parapan Am Games, Okotoks swimmer Kirstie Kasko is facing an uphill climb once again. The athlete said she’s lost her Swim Canada funding after relying on it for the past four years.
“It’s been pretty frustrating. I kind of expected to get carding,” Kirstie said. “When I saw the email I was just in shock.
“Travel and training, it’s all part of the carding. That’s what we get the money for so now I’m pretty much on my own.”
Kasko, a medallist at both the 2011 and 2015 Parapan Am Games and top-12 finisher at the 2012 Paralympics in London, had been carded at the national level by Swim Canada for the past four years. Last season she was on an injury card due to a series of health setbacks including the installation of a pacemaker and, later, the discovery of epilepsy as a root cause of ill-health.
“The limit for being carded is four years unless you’re in the top-10 in the world and Kirstie is 11th in the world and as a result lost her carding,” said Gail Kasko, Kirstie’s mother. “It’s really unfortunate because Swim Canada has a new person in charge and his vision is to put more money behind development than for the older athletes.
“He considers old to be 21. That’s his definition. Maybe they think she can do it herself. I don’t know what they’re thinking.”
It is another twist in a turbulent swim season for the 22-year-old.
Despite missing six months of training in the build-up to the Parapan Ams, Kasko rose to the occasion in Toronto in winning three silver medals and one bronze medal in helping Canada to its best ever medal finish on the Parapan Am stage.
She set a Canadian record in winning silver in the 100m backstroke, took off nine seconds in the 200m individual medley and was close to personal bests in the 200m freestyle and 100m breaststroke.
“She’s 11th in the world, had a really tough year training wise, with illness and being out of the water for six months,” Gail added. “Having to switch clubs and do a whole different style of training, it’s been a tough go, but she did incredibly well at the Parapan Ams.”
Still needing to qualify for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil, the Okotokian is amidst a crucial few months of training in the lead-up to the sport’s biggest competition.
She’s doing it without the approximately $18,000 per annum she’s come to rely upon.
The funding in the past has paid for the costs of travel, hotel accommodations and car rentals for international meets as well as the costs of training, equipment, pool rentals and private lessons.
In the coming months, Kasko will be travelling and staying in North Dakota for the CAN-AMS, a qualifying swim meet to the Paralympic Games, followed by the Paralympic Trials in Toronto, the Canadian Parapan Ams in Quebec and should she make it, the Paralympic Games in September 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. Each trip in Canada and the U.S. costs roughly $3,000. The prohibitive costs aren’t easy to cover.
Kasko’s online courses in physical therapy, four hours per day seven days a week, coupled with her daily regime of multiple training sessions don’t leave her ample time for employment.
“I really need sponsorships because I can’t afford to work with my school,” Kirstie said.
Due to the numerous expenses, Gail has stepped into a coaching role for her daughter alongside sessions with Foothills Stingrays and Okotoks Masters coaches Todd Melton, Emma Hesterman, Cara Clifford and Sharon Barr.
“Parents shouldn’t coach their children. It’s just not the ideal training situation, but you know what we’re making it work,” Gail added. “She’s .11 seconds off her Paralympic qualifying time for Rio. We’re not going to quit by any means.
“Kirstie is out to show Swim Canada that she is a contender.”
In the meantime, the family is asking for sponsors to step up and support the young athlete’s journey to Brazil.
“We really need to find some funding to help with these expenses, she’s lost this money now,” Gail said. “Kirstie represents Okotoks. There was 40 swimmers at Parapan Ams and 80 medals won and she won four of them and she did that in a year when she was on an injury card.
“She represents our town and is certainly willing to do something in return for that sponsorship.”
Anyone interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Gail Kasko at 403-819-6511 or e-mail [email protected]
