My name is Jonathon Sibley. I’m 24 years old and an athlete of Special Olympics Ontario, competing with the St. Thomas chapter. Special Olympics means a lot to me because I feel like I belong. I also have the opportunity to compete and succeed in many different sports including competitive swimming, my sport of choice. I’ve made a lot of friends and had some great coaches including David Kerr, the head coach of the competitive swim team in St Thomas. Coach Dave has become a good friend and teacher to me.
I’ve dreamed of becoming a lifeguard since I was a teenager. My cousin Sean was a lifeguard, but I didn’t think I could learn everything I needed to or handle the stress of all the training. The exam day arrived on August 25, 2023, and I was very nervous – Coach Dave and I didn’t know if I was ready yet. Imagine my surprise when I not only passed, but the examiner pulled me aside and said, “You have leadership potential.” Coach Dave’s encouragement and support, along with the examiner's words inspired me to sign up for the Bronze Cross course in the fall, which I passed with flying colours, much to my amazement!
In January, I travelled to Chatham, Ontario to do a weekend course for YMCA Swim Instructor. Coach Dave was very supportive beforehand, helping me learn some new strokes, like the Elementary Back Stroke and Side Stroke, to prepare for the course. He also loaned me his swim instructor handbook. After three long days in the Chatham pool, I came out to the car waving my YMCA Swim Instructor’s certificate!
Almost immediately, I was asked to join the aquatics team at the St. Thomas Family YMCA as a swim instructor and assistant lifeguard, which I excitedly accepted. I love teaching kids how to swim – it’s been amazing so far. But to become a lifeguard at the YMCA, I needed my National Lifeguard (NL) Certification.
My first attempt at the NL was in June, but I wasn’t able to complete all the requirements. Both Coach Dave and Alax Brown, the head of the Leadership Academy at the Central Branch YMCA in London, encouraged me to try again. I was blown away to receive a text from Alax that said, “You belong here at the Y.” I kept reading that over and over again, until it sunk in! So in July I repeated the course, and successfully became a full fledged lifeguard, and an official member of the St. Thomas YMCA lifeguard team.
2023-24 has been a very exciting year of accomplishments for me. I’m thankful for the support of my family, my swimming teammates and coaches, and especially Coach Dave. I’ve learned that if you have the encouragement and support you need, you can accomplish great things! I’m so thankful to everyone who helped me through; you’ve changed my life. Dreams can come true!