Marple Newtown Swim Team's Special Olympian Is a Champion In Water

Even though Marple Newtown Swim Team didn't sport a winning record this summer, Ron Nagel has won the hearts of his team, his spectators and even his opponents.

BROOMALL–Ron Nagel starts each summer morning working out with 20 to 25 other teenagers as a member of the Marple Newtown Swim Team for Marple Newtown Swim Club in Broomall. He arrives each day with his ear phones in, his sweatshirt hood up, and a huge smile on his face. He's almost always the first one in the pool. The team forgets the fact that Nagel's a Special Olympian wth Down's Syndrome—to them, he's just another swimmer trying to find his way. Ron trains daily for an hour and a half, not always making all the drills and practice sets, but never failing to try. Day by day, year after year since he was  5 years old, Nagel gives it his all. This summer, as a senior, Nagel's events have doubled in distance. He now has to do four lengths…

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