Sheila Guenther has been to many different Paralympic swimming events all over the world in her capacity as a technical official.
She was planning to be in Tokyo later this summer for the 2020 Paralympic Games, but that event was postponed until August and September of next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the safety and training regimes of athletes.
She was appointed in May 2019 by World Para-Swimming to be an official for the Tokyo Games. Since she wasn’t appointed by Para-Swimming Canada, her ability to attend the event wouldn’t have been affected by the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s decision to not travel to Tokyo.
Two days after Canada said it wouldn’t compete in Tokyo, the Olympics and Paralympics were pushed back to 2021.
“The swimmers at this point, most of them are not able to train in a swimming pool,” said Guenther.
She still hopes to work at the Paralympics next year in Tokyo.
Her role as a technical official is one that she’s familiar with. Guenther was at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and she has been at international events for the past 13 years.
“I started out as a timer at the Estevan Golden Eels swim meets, and from there, they encourage you to advance and continue officiating and taking more courses and clinics. I continued to do that, and then at a national level, I was given the opportunity to take an international course for Para-swimming.”
Attending the Paralympic Games as an official is an amazing experience, she said. There is a great atmosphere, and being part of the opening ceremonies and the closing ceremonies is a special opportunity.
“We are there to support all athletes and all teams, and to cheer them on at the opening and closing ceremonies, and as an official, we need to be impartial in all that we’re doing,” she said.
