Kirra Troeger, dedicated. Photo: Kevin Cody/Easy Reader News
Every summer, somewhere around 2000 kids take the test to become a junior lifeguard in LA County. Being a part of the group is a coveted position–and it’s not an easy one to get. But Kirra Troeger earned her position. The 11-year-old is a phenomenal swimmer, loves the ocean, is on the City of Manhattan Beach Dolphin Swim Team, and has a smile that lights up the room. She also has Down Syndrome.
Kirra comes from a family of lifeguards. Her father, Steve, was a JG for eight full years before joining the ranks of the LA County Lifeguard service back in 1974, and both of her sisters were Junior Lifeguards. But family ties don’t mean anything to a stopwatch, and Kirra had to prove her worth just like the rest of the cadets.
The rules are pretty simple: swim 100 yards in under 1:50, and you’ve passed the test. Early last summer, Kirra went out for her first try. She finished with a time of 1:55, just five seconds short of the cutoff. But she wasn’t deterred; if anything, she was more determined. She spent the entire next week working on her turns because she was told that although she could swim fast enough, her turns were slowing her down. For a full week, she practiced kickturns at Begg Pool, where she trains with her swim team.
The next time she tried out? Well, the practice paid off. Kirra shaved a full 10 seconds off her time. And with that, Kirra Troeger was officially the first Los Angeles County Junior Lifeguard with Down Syndrome.
Kirra started life on Catalina Island. Three times a week, her family took her to therapy in Torrance, where she took part in intensive therapy programs designed not to prepare her for a life with Down Syndrome, but to prepare her for life as a normal kid. She spent the first five years of her life snorkeling, sailing, and swimming with her family, and when it came time to go to kindergarten, the family moved to the mainland.
The Troegers put down roots in Manhattan Beach, where Kirra was enrolled in a school that has a different approach to kids with special needs. While many programs separate children with Down Syndrome into other groups, Grandview puts them into regular classes and helps them out when they need it.
“Instead of putting special needs kids in a separate program and occasionally putting them in with the other kids, Grandview puts the special needs kids in with the other kids and occasionally pulls them out for remedial help,” Kirra’s mother Kathy told Easy Reader News. “Being with regular kids helps the special needs kids learn appropriate behavior.”
Just like any other kid, though, Kirra’s first season as a Junior Lifeguard came with its share of problems. She didn’t make a lot of friends and the buoy swims terrified her. But just like she did when she needed to work on her kickturns, Kirra did what needed to be done. She joined a running group, trained even harder, and got over her fears.
At the start of this summer, the lifeguards did their assessments. If the kids can’t keep up, they’re dropped. It’s a matter of safety. The instructors spend a week going over the kids’ skills, then make their decisions. At the weeks’ end, JG instructor Elle Quane went over the results. Kirra had two top 10 finishes and two in 11th and 13th place, enough to keep her on the roster.
“I have 25 boys and girls and Kirra usually finishes around 10th in the swims,” Quane told Easy Reader News. “Her best finish is seventh. She always gives 100 percent and always has a positive attitude. To the other kids, she’s just another JG. The ocean is a great equalizer.”
