In spite of rain, 56 students and faculty participated in a two-mile swim across Lake Wononscopomuc to support Special Olympics. Since 1994, the school has raised money for Special Olympics Connecticut and Special Olympics Slovakia with this event.
Mr. Keith Moon P’13, ’16, head coach of Boys Swimming, established the Swimathon in 1994. The event proved a success, raising over $4,000 for Special Olympics CT.
The event has become a fall tradition. Throughout its 30-year history, the Swimathon has raised over $300,000.
In 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Mr. Moon traveled to Slovakia, where he helped establish a relationship between Special Olympics CT and Special Olympics Slovakia.
On October 10, 2022, with help from Special Olympics CT and the school’s Special Olympics club, Special Olympics Slovakia founded the Dream Day Center, a school for Ukrainian refugee children born with intellectual disabilities.
This year, the school hosted four athletes and four coaches from Special Olympics Slovakia, who traveled to Lakeville to participate in the Swimathon.
Before the event, they toured campus with a focus on athletic facilities. “We are grateful to have come to Hotchkiss; the students here are very lucky to have access to these facilities,” said Eva Gazova, one of the Slovakian coaches
and a national director of Special Olympics Slovakia.
The Special Olympics club works each year to coordinate the Swimathon and host visiting athletes. “I joined the club in my Prep year and have been a part of the leadership team for the past three years. I used to coach a neighbor with autism before coming to Hotchkiss, and I am glad that I was able to continue supporting the cause,” said club co-head Ella Johnson ’25.
“This is my third time participating in the Swimathon and I feel like I truly make an impact. With the connection with Special Olympics Slovakia, I have been even more inspired to participate,” said Oliver Johnson ’25.
Before 2020, the Swimathon took place in the Hixon Pool. During the pandemic, it was moved to Wononskopomuc Lake, where it is still held.
This year, fifteen Choate students joined in the swim. Swimmers began at the school’s beach, swam across the late to the Town Grove, and swam back across the lake. Boats traveled alongside the swimmers for safety and transported tired swimmers back to the school.
Rain began just as swimmers were leaving the water. The Swimathon concluded with a communal barbeque, which was attended by the head of the board of directors of Special Olympic Connecticut.
