Swimming phenomenon Michael Phelps has been an inspiration to many people this Olympic Games.

But what you may not know is that his mother put him in swimming lessons as a child to help cope with his ADHD.

Now, Phelps' story is serving as an inspiration to parents of special needs children right here in Michiana.

Annie Sawicki is teaching 30 special needs children the ropes around the pool, and just like teaching able-bodied children, there are some shaky starts.

"The first two lessons are very bumpy," said Sawicki. "And then as the children learn how to blow bubbles or jump off the side, or be able to jump in deep water, the positive feeling is just so much more than with an able-bodied swimmer."

Fourteen-year-old Jordan Kazmirski is diagnosed with CHARGE syndrome, which among other things, affects his hearing, his vision, and his heart.

"Back when he was a baby, doctors said he would never walk, crawl, all this, and he was stubborn and grandma was stubborn," said Jordan's grandmother, Linda Kazmirski.

With grandma's help, Jordan is able to do much more than walk and talk.

And now, with Annie's help, he is learning to swim too.

"He's nervous but he has grown a lot from the first time Annie worked with him," said Linda. "He's prospered so much from the swimming."

Little Jacob Murasko has Downs Syndrome, but it has never kept him or his parents down.

At two years old, he's a natural in the water. But even at such a young age, his instructor and parents think what Jacob can do in the water is limitless.

"I just see a lot of potential in Jacob," said Marla Murasko, Jacob's mother. "And it's nice to see that Michael Phelps has ADHD. He's got a little bit of a disability, and it's good to see that children with disabilities can do stuff, and they have the potential if you just show them the tools."

The tools are what it's all about. Annie tailors each lesson for each child's needs, but sees swimming not just as a lesson for in the pool, but in life.

"Being in the water, it's just one of those sports most everyone can do," said Annie. "And the self-esteem and the self-confidence that we're seeing is just really heartwarming."

Enrollment in most swimming classes typically grows by about 50 percent following any summer Olympic Games.

Annie and some of these parents are hoping the special needs swimming program will continue to grow as well.