HISTORY OF THE MEET
The non-championship swim meet was established in 2003 under the direction of Keith Kennedy, a USA Swimming Coach and University of Cincinnati alum, as part of the Greater Toledo Aquatic Club (GTAC). Now, twenty-two years later, the meet continues to strengthen the Paralympic Swimming community and serves as a universal effort supported throughout the Midwest and the greater United States.
This event classifies more athletes than any other meet in a given year, making it a pivotal competition for Paralympic swimmers. At its peak, the meet, previously hosted at UC’s Keating Aquatic Center, welcomed as many as 139 swimmers. As of 2025, the competition has moved to the Keating Natatorium at St. Xavier High School and is now under the direction of Andrew Nixon, hosted by the Enabling Possibilities Foundation.
The U.S. Paralympics swim meet in Cincinnati has attracted participants from more than 20 countries, including:
· USA
· Armenia (6,104 mi)
· Australia (10,019 mi)
· Belarus (4,872 mi)
· Brazil (4,240 mi)
· Canada
· China (7,223 mi)
· Colombia (2,465 mi from Bogota)
· Croatia (4,781 mi)
· Ecuador (2,737 mi from Quito)
· Finland (4,456 mi)
· France (4,139 mi from Paris)
· Japan (6,562 mi from Tokyo)
· Korea (6,741 mi)
· India (7,621 mi from Delhi, and no, we are not referring to the West Side of Cincinnati)”·
· Mexico (1,785 mi)
· New Zealand (8,382 mi)
· Russia (5,067 mi from Moscow)
· Uzbekistan (6,562 mi)
· Venezuela (2,517 mi)
(*Mileage calculations reflect the distance from each country to Cincinnati.)
In 2013, the U.S. Paralympic Team officially assumed the role of meet management and host. In 2015, the Enabling Possibilities Foundation took over the meet’s management and continues to oversee its success today.
