Toccoa Salutes Local Paralympian

Photo courtesy: Steph Maley, Steph's Photography

Photo courtesy: Steph Maley, Steph’s Photography

Toccoa comes together to wish local Paralympic athlete McKenzie Coan well.

On Tuesday, local residents gathered at Paul Anderson Park to sign a “memory book” to wish Coan well and celebrate her accomplishments as she prepares to swim at the Paralympic games in Rio next month.

McKenzie is the daughter of Dr. Marc Coan, who practices at the Toccoa Clinic.

He said it is exciting to see the community show up like this to support McKenzie.

“I appreciate the opportunity to be over here and I appreciate the Clinic and Deborah Gibby in particular setting this up,” said Coan. “My only regret is that McKenzie cannot be here. She is into training in a big way in Baltimore and I called her coach and the answer was ‘no.’ I understand that, but she would have really have loved the event. It was very nice.”

Dr. Coan went on to say that McKenzie and the whole family appreciate all of the support they receive from northeast Georgia.

“We have a lot of people coming out,” he said. “We appreciate the support. We appreciate the prayers. I talked to McKenzie yesterday. She is ready to roll. They are tired of looking at each other. They are tired of training. They are ready for the Games to start. The Paralympic games is a really special experience and it is something I am really looking forward. I have the opportunity to go down for the Games, my wife and my family, so we are really looking forward to it.”

The Paralympic games start September 7 in Rio.

McKenzie plans to swim in five individual events; the 50 free, 100 free, 400 free, 50 butterfly, and the 100 backstroke.

She could also be on relay teams.

Coan holds American Paralympic swimming records in the backstroke, butterfly and freestyle competitions and currently attends Loyola University in Maryland.

The memory book that people started signing Tuesday in Toccoa will travel to Toccoa Clinic’s satellite clinics in Clayton, Lavonia, Clarkesville and Demorest and to other locations in the region.

Clinic officials say the “memory book relay” will conclude with a community celebration and homecoming when Coan returns from Rio in mid-September.

Dr. David Yates of Toccoa Clinic said that the Coans have been part of the Clinic’s medical family since 1990 and they have watched McKenzie grow up to become a fine young woman and outstanding swimmer.