Kentwood — In the East Kentwood High School pool, swimmer Gus Perton practices his freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly stroke while working on speed and technique, never quitting until a practice set is done.
Fierce and focused, he’s at the pool two hours a day, four or five days a week, said Jock Ambrose, assistant varsity swim team coach.
Next month, Gus, a senior at East Kentwood, will put his strokes to the test internationally. On Oct. 27, he will travel with his parents, Emily and Jason Perton, to Albufeira, Portugal, to race in the 12th World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships from Nov. 1-7.
Hosted by the Down Syndrome International Swimming Organisation, the event provides the opportunity for people with Down syndrome to swim at a world class level. Gus has qualified for the 50-meter backstroke, 100-meter breaststroke, 50-meter breaststroke, 50-meter freestyle and 50-meter butterfly.
Gus, who has limited verbal skills, communicated for this interview by writing on his phone.
“I think I am a bit faster and proud,” he typed.
A ‘superstar’
While his work ethic has led to his success in swimming, at KPS Gus is most known for his happy-go-lucky personality, said his teammate and friend Thierry Rwamucyo.
“He is always welcoming to everyone,” said Thierry, a senior. “Whenever I see him in the hallway he stands with his arms out and gives me a hug.”
On the team, he is a happy, motivating force and people gravitate to him like a “superstar,” said Jock Ambrose, assistant varsity swim coach.
Most notably, Ambrose said, Gus is always up for the challenge in front of him.
“First and foremost, Gus capitalizes on his abilities and deals with the disabilities. When I say that (I mean) he has always been an extremely positive, great teammate and good worker,” Ambrose said. “Because of what he brings — those characteristics of doing the best that he can — he positively affects everybody.”
Thierry said he is proud of his friend.
“He’s always pushing himself in practice. I was always impressed with what he can do and what he did do. It motivated me more to push myself in practice.”
‘Our miracle kid’
The Pertons adopted Gus from South Korea when he was 21 months old. While preparing for the adoption, they learned he had significant heart issues including two holes in his heart and pulmonary hypertension. He had recurring bouts of pneumonia.
A cardiologist advised against the adoption, and the couple was told Gus would not live past age 5.
The Pertons, however, were not dissuaded.
“This is our kid,” said Emily Perton. “If we had given birth to him we wouldn’t give up. We decided we are going to love him as long as we have him.”
From the first moment she held him, Gus showed that love was mutual and seemed to instinctually try to calm his mother.
“He patted me on the back!” she said.
Once Gus was in Grand Rapids, the cardiologist who had advised against adoption examined him to find his heart was in much better condition than the records showed. He has needed no surgery. A pulmonologist determined that a thick liquid diet would prevent pneumonia, and it did.
“Gus is a fighter, he just is. He would crack up the doctor, sign ‘I love you’ to the nurses,” his mom said.
By age 5, defying the odds, Gus was thriving.
“He’s our miracle kid,” she said.
Born to Swim
The Pertons, both former high school swimmers, put Gus into the pool at a hotel on the first day they had custody of him. He took to the water immediately, recalled his mother.
“He was elated! He loved it. He right away showed his love for swimming.”
The rest came naturally, she said. Gus started swimming lessons at age 2, joined his first community swim team at around age 7 and went on to compete for Grand Rapids Aquatics, Special Olympics Michigan, the KPS middle school swim team and then the East Kentwood high school team.
When the family learned of the chance for Gus to compete for USA Down Syndrome Swimming, it was an opportunity they knew they couldn’t pass up, his mother said. Gus competed in a national meet in Orlando, Florida, at age 16.
Due to the cost, the Pertons didn’t seriously consider having Gus compete at the world competition in Portugal. But after he qualified, friends and community members came together to raise the money.
A Leader at EK
At East Kentwood, Gus is on the honor roll, serves as men’s water polo team manager and works part time in the aquatics center. In mid-September, he was getting ready for a busy week preparing for Homecoming.
When asked what his favorite thing about school is, he typed “Student Council.”
“He loves school. It is his favorite thing. He hates half days and when there’s no school,” said his mom. “I am really impressed with how EK has provided him with different opportunities.”
She said she often watches Gus race with tears in her eyes.
“We feel unbelievably blessed by the community and how they embrace Gus and encourage him. … His teammates see Gus as part of the team and hold him to the same expectations as everyone else.”
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