Olympus High swimmer to represent Team USA at Paralympic World Championships in Portugal

Olympus High School swimmer Audrey Kim will represent Team USA at the Paralympic World Championships in Portugal on June 12.

Olympus High School swimmer Audrey Kim will represent Team USA at the Paralympic World Championships in Portugal on June 12. (Mina Kim )


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MILLCREEK — When Mina Kim held her daughter Audrey in her arms for the first time, like most mothers she wanted her little girl to have it all.

She knew, however, that things would be different for Audrey, who was born with a rare congenital hand condition called symbrachydactyly. This condition is a disorder where Audrey's fourth and fifth fingers on her right hand are missing and the three others were fused together, requiring surgery to separate.

With all those challenges, little did Mina Kim know that 15 years later her daughter would be competing in the Paralympic World Championships in swimming.

Audrey is a sophomore at Olympus High School, and this coming Sunday will be representing Team USA in the 50-meter free, 100-meter free, 100-meter back, and 200 individual medley swim races.

While Mina Kim didn't foresee the success of her daughter, it was important to her that Audrey turn her weakness into a strength. Audrey's dad, Christopher Kim expressed similar goals.

"It was heartbreaking for us to see this perfect baby with this hand dysfunction and figure out how we would raise her so that she wouldn't feel differently from other kids," Christopher Kim said.

Mina Kim saw swimming as a way to build strength and confidence in her daughter.

"I couldn't think of anything else that could give her arm exercise at an early age," Mina Kim said. "We did occupational therapy when she was 1 year old. At the same time, I wanted to find something that would help move her arm more to give her more strength. I started Mommy and Me swim classes when Audrey was 2, but she hated the water."

Both parents reminisced about the first years with their daughter, not only fighting to go to the swimming pool, but even giving Audrey a bath.

"For some reason, (Audrey) just hated the water," Christopher Kim said. "Bath time and shower time were so stressful for us. When she knew she was going to swim, she would be in a terrible mood until class was over. Mina stuck with it, though. If she hadn't stuck with it, (Audrey) wouldn't be where she is right now."

Building strength among setbacks

Over the years, Audrey not only overcame her disdain for water, but her arm became strong, and she began to compete on a local swim team and found she was quite good at it. Not only did she win against para athletes, but also at the mainstream events.

In fact, as a sophomore in high school, she met all the state qualifying standards for her events. Unfortunately, due to a midseason move from North Salt Lake to Millcreek, she was unable to compete at the state championships for her high school this year. Audrey said that not being able to compete at state with her high school team was devastating.

"It was a really frustrating process," Audrey said. "I thought I was OK to compete at state. When I was told I couldn't swim when I was training for it, it was devastating."

That devastation was met with determination when she filled that time with improving her technique and competing at national events.

"I worked with my coach on how to maximize my pull," Audrey said. "I know how I can get the maximum pull out of each stroke, which is pulling completely with my left arm, and taking my right arm halfway out of the water after I finish a freestyle stroke."

With that improved technique, Audrey competed at the Para Swimming World Series in Indianapolis in April. It was during that meet that she qualified for the Paralympic World Championships. But she wouldn't find out until later if she made the team; when she did, it was well worth the wait.

"When I found out I was selected to represent the United States at the World Championships, I was over the moon!" Audrey said. "I found out on our way to the BTS concert in Las Vegas. I'm a huge BTS fan. That was the happiest day ever! It is my first time representing Team USA and I am extremely honored to represent our great country. I am excited, happy and proud to be here with all the world-class athletes. I can't wait to compete with them."

This is Audrey's first time competing internationally, and she says she is just taking it all in.

"I'm excited to compete and, right now, I want to take it all in and apply that experience to other meets," Audrey said. "I am extremely thankful for my parents, Coach McKay King and Coach Tom Thorum for their support and training. I am also extremely thankful to my Olympus Aquatics teammates for their love and support."

Audrey Kim will be competing in the Paralympic World Championships on June 12-18 at the Penteada Olympic Swimming Complex in Madeira, Portugal. The World Para Swimming Championships will be streamed live on Paralympic Sport TV.

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Arianne Brown has been a contributing writer at KSL.com for many years with a focus on sharing uplifting stories.
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