Mouning Swims For Granby Memorial With 'Glory and Pride'

Asked why he finishes last in nearly every race, swimming and diving team member Malachi Mouning stood poised, unphased and answered succictly.

“I’m not as experienced as the other swimmers,” Mouning, a sophomore, said in a recent interview at the in Granby.

That’s it?

“It’s also just harder for me because I don’t have the full use of my legs,” Mouning added.

Mouning was born with spina bifida, which literally means “split spine.” It’s a developmental congenital disorder that causes various complications, depending on the severity of each case, according to the Spina Bifida Association website.

Mouning has almost no use of his legs and moves around with the assistance of crutches - all of which doesn’t prevent him from taking part on the swim team in the winter and the track and field team in the spring.

“There are certain things that I can’t do with my feet,” Mouning said. “I used to not be able to feel my feet.”

On the swim team, Mouning races in the 50 and 100 free events and is usually the last person to touch out at meets, as he can’t kick, which is almost essential for propulsion through the water. So it’s not surprising that he receives the loudest applause from those in attendance when he finishes races.

Not that Mouning cares for any of that or even views himself as a worthy subject for a story.

“I have one challenge. That doesn’t make me any different from anyone else,” said Mouning, who added that he doesn’t view what he does as that big a deal. “Not really...my parents have always taught me to be a very independent person.”

If there is anything that’s frustrating, it’s not being able to do certain things like diving to start off a race. He starts his events inside the pool and pushes off the side at the buzzer.

“Some people can dive off the board, I just can’t do that,” Mouning said.

Head coach Rich Gadoury said that Mouning’s humility and work ethic have made him a popular and valuable member of the team.

“Ever since he’s been on the team, there’s been a lot less complaining,” Gadoury said. “Nobody compares themselves to him. They just step up and do what he does. He’s an inspiration for us all, he motivates us all. For him to get out there and do what he does, and he does it with glory and pride. Every meet. He knows what he’s going to do, he knows he’s not going to be one of the fastest...He does get the loudest applause, but he’s so humble about it."

“He’s not different than anyone else. He came out for track last year, he threw the shot for us, he threw the discus for us. He’s out there doing for us what we’d be doing during our normal days,” Gadoury said.

Team captain John Budlong said that the team has not only embraced Mouning, but is inspired by him.

“He actually blew us away,” Budlong said. “On his 50 free, he would drop a half a minute. He would swim at one meet and then swim 30 seconds faster in another. It’s really impressive how he progresses. It makes you think, the type of effort that he’s bringing forth, he’s inspired this team.”

And it’s not just Mouning’s performance in the pool that makes him a valued member of the team.

“He’s really quiet, but you get to know him and he’s really hilarious,” Budlong said. “He’s a really funny guy.”

Mouning has beaten some swimmers in races and said that his goal is to eventually swim in the 200 freestyle event. As for later in life, Mouning hopes to become an attorney; it would be foolish to bet against him.

“If everyone had the heart, the motivation and the determination of Malachi, this team would be unstoppable,” Gadoury said.