‘World records right here in Boise.’ Paralympic swimmers give City of Trees a show
Service dog Chippy was snoozing in the stands when owner Eden Schroeder earned a bronze medal in the women’s 50-meter backstroke.
While the 2-year-old black lab may have been taking a much-deserved rest, the remainder of the fans at the Idaho Central Aquatic Center had their eyes locked on the pool Friday night for the 2025 U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Championships.
“I just really enjoy seeing so many different types of disabilities come out, and it’s pretty welcoming as everyone’s kind of going through different struggles,” Schroeder told the Idaho Statesman. “But it’s still a community together and supporting each other.”
More than 60 of the nation’s top Paralympic swimmers are in Boise through Sunday, including a contingent of returning Paralympians from the Tokyo and Paris Games who are gearing up for the 2025 Para Swimming World Championships in September in Singapore.
According to U.S. Paralympics Swimming, “Paralympic swimming competition is open to male and female athletes with physical disabilities such as dwarfism, amputation/limb loss, blindness/visual impairment, spinal cord injury/wheelchair-users, cerebral palsy/brain injury/stroke, cognitive impairment, and Les autres.”
There was no question about the world-caliber talent on display during Friday’s opening day of competition, with three world-record performances.
Minnesota 16-year-old Koehn Boyd established a world record in Friday morning’s prelims of the 400 individual medley in 4:45.83. He then won gold in the men’s 400 freestyle (4:08.99) and 100 butterfly (57.85) later in the day.
“I was just really wanting to drop, and when I touched the wall and heard that it was a world record, I was like, ‘Oh, wow,’ ” Boyd said. “I was so shocked. And, yeah, honestly, it was a great feeling. And I’m honored to be here and represent Team USA.”
Wisconsin 22-year-old Katie Kubiak doubled up on the record count, first establishing a world record in the women’s 50 butterfly in the prelims and then breaking that record in the finals in 38.96.
“I think my favorite part about swimming is it’s very much a mental sport, and it’s created this sort of mental toughness that’s carried over into all facets of my life,” Kubiak said. “I think my favorite part of every day is always being able to just get into the water and focus on the black line and focus on the set and the rest of the day doesn’t really matter. The rest of the world doesn’t really matter.”
Kubiak also won the women’s 50 backstroke (42.14), celebrating afterwards with third-place Schroeder and runner-up Gray Rutledge at the finish line.
“We all are racing, but we’re all cheering each other on,” Kubiak said. “Because we know that, like, at the end of the day we’re all friends.”
The Idaho Central Aquatic Center opened in 2023 and features an eight-lane, 50-meter competition pool, separate six-lane 25-yard pool and seating for nearly 1,000 spectators.
“It’s all about the athletes, right? I mean, it’s really cool to see how all this can come together and the amount of volunteers, but it’s really about the kids in the pool and what they can do,” said Ryan Stratton, co-founder and developer of the Idaho Central Aquatic Center.
“We set world records this morning. Like, that’s amazing. World records right here in Boise, Idaho, in this facility. Seeing those kids touch the wall, look up at the clock and see those best times, that’s the fulfilling part.”
Competition continues Saturday and Sunday. Preliminary heats begin at 9 a.m. each day followed by finals at 5:30 p.m.
This story was originally published June 20, 2025 at 9:47 PM.
