Meet Swimming athlete, Alyissa Coffin
This summer’s Provincial Games are a come back story for Alyissa Coffin, and was made extra special when she was selected to be Team PEI’s sign bearer. “It was priceless to be picked to be sign bearer for Team PEI. It is a big responsibility to represent PEI” shared Alyissa Coffin.
We were excited to share the news with Alyissa that she would be walking in as our Team PEI representative at Opening Ceremonies with Coach Debbie Metcalfe! Alyissa has shown a tremendous amount of energy in the lead up to this event and is a key contributor to a strong swimming team. We knew Alyissa and Debbie would carry the delegation sign with pride and boost team morale in advance of competition in the coming days.
Last summer, after training and preparing all season long, Alyissa had to scratch herself from Provincial Games. Having caught COVID-19 just two days before the competition was set to begin, Alyissa was devastated to miss out on the opportunity to compete.
This summer Alyissa is ready to get back in the pool, competing at the Nova Scotia Provincial Games in the sport of swimming. She is one of six swimming athletes who are competing this weekend for a chance to potentially represent PEI at next summer’s Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in 2026. Looking ahead to the weekend, Alyissa says she is most looking forward to cheering on her teammates.
I am extremely overwhelmed with emotion to have Alyissa with us at this Provincial Games. She missed out on the last Games due to catching COVID two days before she was to go. Her enthusiasm is amazing, and she just pumps the whole team up and we're so proud to have her with us this weekend.
From her mother’s perspective, Special Olympics has been tremendously beneficial to Alyissa. Her mother, Tracey Coffin, shares: “before joining Special Olympics Alyissa was shy. She really kept to herself. Now, she has completed turned around. She is always laughing. In Special Olympics, Alyissa can be herself.”