THE RACE IS ON!
Blind Swimmer Anastasia Pagonis and her guide dog,
Radar, are headed to the Tokyo Paralympics and the gold that is waiting for
them there
Radar, are headed to the Tokyo Paralympics and the gold that is waiting for
them there
By Andrea Qie
17-year-old Anastasia Pagonis, a 2020 Tokyo Paralympic blind swimmer, lives in Long Island, New York with her guide dog, Radar, who has helped her along her swimming journey. Pagonis lost her vision completely at the age of 14 due to autoimmune retinopathy and two genetic disease disorders.
Radar, Pagonis’s labrador retriever guide dog has always been by her side. He met Anastasia when she was 14, the same year she lost her vision. Before Pagonis met Radar, she struggled through some of the darkest times, often feeling like she had nothing to do with herself because she had lost her sight. But upon meeting Radar, she knew that this little puppy would always be there for her with never ending love and support.
Although Pagonis is now known for her utmost talent in swimming, when Pagonis first discovered she would be blind, she was not a swimmer. Before that, she took part in the sport of soccer. After being injured multiple times by the ball, she eventually asked her doctor for suggestions on new sports to play, ultimately being recommended the sport of swimming. However, during this time, Pagonis ran into some problems. No one wanted to train “the blind girl,” and had a lack of faith. That was until she found Marc Danin. Anastasia has trained and continues to train with Danin, the founder of Islanders Aquatics, a swim club in Long Island, New York. All along the way, Radar has been there for her, aiding her in daily life such as, helping her walk around, sense danger, cross streets, and stay safe.
“So, it’s now over two years and our relationship is, a coach, swimmer relationship so we see a lot of each other because she trains, about eight to ten practices a week, and I also tap her, which means I help her with her turns while there’s another tapper at the other end of the pool. So our relationship is a little more, she’s almost like family to me just because we spend so much time together so it’s a little more than just a coach/swimmer relationship, it’s kind of a coach/family swimmer relationship.” said Mark about their relationship.
Radar waits for Pagonis and looks out for her when she is in the pool. Danin understands that Pagonis needs Radar as well as himself. He puts in lots of hard work and time. When training, Marc Danin uses an object to tap Anastasia’s head when she has to turn or finish at the wall. It takes quite a lot of patience and hard work, but Danin and Pagonis' hard work, persistence, and willingness has made it possible to achieve.
“I was very happy for her. She worked for it and it wasn’t a surprise to me. I expected her to do that because she’s been working so hard and I know the times that she has to beat, so I was happy that she was happy.” said Danin about his feeling when Anastasia broke a world record.
More recently, Anastasia Pagonis broke the S11 women's 400 meter free world record at the Paralympic Trials. In the prelims, she broke the record with a time of 4:59.28. In the finals, she lowered it by about three seconds with a time of 4:56.16.
“I’m expecting her to come home with a metal. That’s all.” said Mark Danin, Anastasia’s coach about the 2020 Paralympics.
Radar, Pagonis’s labrador retriever guide dog has always been by her side. He met Anastasia when she was 14, the same year she lost her vision. Before Pagonis met Radar, she struggled through some of the darkest times, often feeling like she had nothing to do with herself because she had lost her sight. But upon meeting Radar, she knew that this little puppy would always be there for her with never ending love and support.
Although Pagonis is now known for her utmost talent in swimming, when Pagonis first discovered she would be blind, she was not a swimmer. Before that, she took part in the sport of soccer. After being injured multiple times by the ball, she eventually asked her doctor for suggestions on new sports to play, ultimately being recommended the sport of swimming. However, during this time, Pagonis ran into some problems. No one wanted to train “the blind girl,” and had a lack of faith. That was until she found Marc Danin. Anastasia has trained and continues to train with Danin, the founder of Islanders Aquatics, a swim club in Long Island, New York. All along the way, Radar has been there for her, aiding her in daily life such as, helping her walk around, sense danger, cross streets, and stay safe.
“So, it’s now over two years and our relationship is, a coach, swimmer relationship so we see a lot of each other because she trains, about eight to ten practices a week, and I also tap her, which means I help her with her turns while there’s another tapper at the other end of the pool. So our relationship is a little more, she’s almost like family to me just because we spend so much time together so it’s a little more than just a coach/swimmer relationship, it’s kind of a coach/family swimmer relationship.” said Mark about their relationship.
Radar waits for Pagonis and looks out for her when she is in the pool. Danin understands that Pagonis needs Radar as well as himself. He puts in lots of hard work and time. When training, Marc Danin uses an object to tap Anastasia’s head when she has to turn or finish at the wall. It takes quite a lot of patience and hard work, but Danin and Pagonis' hard work, persistence, and willingness has made it possible to achieve.
“I was very happy for her. She worked for it and it wasn’t a surprise to me. I expected her to do that because she’s been working so hard and I know the times that she has to beat, so I was happy that she was happy.” said Danin about his feeling when Anastasia broke a world record.
More recently, Anastasia Pagonis broke the S11 women's 400 meter free world record at the Paralympic Trials. In the prelims, she broke the record with a time of 4:59.28. In the finals, she lowered it by about three seconds with a time of 4:56.16.
“I’m expecting her to come home with a metal. That’s all.” said Mark Danin, Anastasia’s coach about the 2020 Paralympics.
Pagonis’ guide dog Radar is waiting for Anastasia at practice while her coach is helping Radars’ owner. Radar was trained to be a guide dog by The Guide Dog Foundation. Anastasia is now part of the club that Marc coaches, Islander Aquatics because of the independence and the freedom Radar gave back to its owner.
Andrea Qie is a Session 1 participant of the First to the Frontpage Summer of 2021 program.