Ep 15. Swim Team

In the 15th episode of the 30th season of POV, viewers are taken on an emotional journey with a group of young athletes with autism as they train and compete on a swim team in New Jersey. Titled "Swim Team," the episode follows the three main swimmers in the team: Mikey, Robbie, and Kelvin, as well as their parents and coaches.

The episode begins by introducing the audience to the team and its coaches, Mike and Maria McQuay, both of whom have a son with autism. Through their struggles in finding suitable athletic programs for their own children, they realized the need for a swim team for individuals with autism. The New Jersey Hammerheads swim team was thus formed, and the McQuays have been working tirelessly to run it and train their swimmers ever since.

The audience is then introduced to the three swimmers mentioned earlier. Mikey is the eldest of the group and has been with the team for the longest time. He is a passionate swimmer who enjoys the sport and the routine it provides him. Robbie, on the other hand, is a new member of the team who has only been swimming competitively for a few months. His parents are hoping that the team will prove to be a good outlet for his energy and help him engage more with the world around him. Finally, Kelvin is the youngest of the group but also the fastest swimmer on the team. His mother is a single parent who has been struggling to find a place for herself and her son in society ever since Kelvin was diagnosed with autism.

The episode then delves into the struggles that the swimmers and their parents face on a daily basis. Many of them are not able to communicate effectively with the world around them, which makes going to school, socializing, and even eating difficult. However, in the water, these struggles seem to dissipate as they are able to focus on their swimming and block out the rest of the world.

The audience is then shown the rigorous training regimen that the team goes through. The coaches put the swimmers through various drills that help them build their strength, endurance, and technique. This is all leading up to a national swim meet that they will be competing in, which is a huge moment for the team. However, as the date of the meet draws closer, the swimmers and their parents begin to feel the stress and pressure of the competition.

As the team prepares for the meet, the audience is given more insight into the families and their lives outside of the pool. Some parents share their hopes and fears for their children's future, while also lamenting the lack of support and understanding that they receive from society. The swimmers themselves also share their own thoughts and emotions about the competition and what the team means to them.

Finally, the day of the meet arrives, and the swimmers are shown competing in various events. The audience is on the edge of their seats as they watch the swimmers maneuver through the water, hoping that they will do well and achieve their goals. While the film does not reveal the final outcome of the meet, it focuses instead on the emotional journey that the swimmers and their families have been on, and the hope that they have found through the team.

Overall, "Swim Team" is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that sheds light on the autism community and the struggles that they face. It is a testament to the human spirit and the power of community, and it is sure to tug at the heartstrings of anyone who watches it.