Swimmer has overcome some bad breaks

As the beginning of the South Carolina prep swim season approaches, Kyle Sink has one goal.

"To make the state meet," said the North Augusta High School junior.

Kyle, 16, lettered in the sport last year, which also was the first year the school had a swim team. He was an alternate at the state meet.

Kyle started in competitive swimming when he was about 5. Like most boys, he wanted to be involved in physical activity.

Unfortunately, there are some sports Kyle can't participate in. He was born with a rare bone disorder called osteogenesis imperfecta, which causes his bones to fracture easily. He's had at least 12 fractures in his lifetime. The first, he said, occurred when he was 4 months old.

Kyle's parents, Don and Lou Ann Sink, said they are proud he hasn't let his physical condition stop him. His mother also has the disease. Doctors told Mrs. Sink there was a 50-50 chance she would pass it to her children. Their daughter, Megan, does not have the disorder.

Kyle swam with the Aiken-Augusta Swim League as a child. About two years ago, he fractured the small bones in his foot during a swim meet. He hit the side of the pool in an odd way when he was making a turn, he said,

Another unusual symptom of the disease is the sclera (the white part) of the eye is tinted blue.

In preparation for this year's swim season, which begins at the end of August and ends in October, Kyle swam with the CSRA Swim League and was a member of the all-star team.

While swimming can't act as therapy or treatment for his disease, he said the sport has many benefits for him.

Besides keeping him in good physical shape, "it really does keep me feeling like a normal child," he said.

He doesn't think about the possibility of fracturing a bone while in the pool. Doctors have told the Sinks that Kyle has the mildest form of the disease.

In addition to swimming, Kyle was a letterman on the North Augusta High tennis team last spring and was named rookie of the year.

"My mother didn't let me do anything," said Mrs. Sink. "Sports is one thing we let him do to lead as normal a life as possible."

Reach Charmain Z. Brackett at czbrackett@hotmail.com.