Jeff Kime grins from ear-to-ear as he listens to his sister, Lorraine Perkins, reel off his weekly fitness routine.
From swimming with his friends each Saturday at the local YMCA to pumping weights at American Family Fitness to participating in Fitness Tuesdays with the Greater ARC of Williamsburg, Kime is always looking for ways to stay active.
“He’s very particular about his fitness,” said Perkins, Kime’s sister who he lives with in Williamsburg. “He gets up early on swim days to make sure he’s ready, he never forgets things when he goes to the gym – his water bottle, protein shake – he’s just all about it.”
A strict fitness regimen is a big reason Kime, a 41-year-old facilities assistant at Williamsburg Christian Academy with down syndrome, is able not just to compete but excel at the annual Special Olympics Summer Games in Richmond. His latest performance came three weeks ago, when Kime brought home three silver medals in the 400 meter freestyle, 100 meter butterfly and 100 meter freestyle.
His job helps, too.
Kime has turned his position as facilities assistant into more of a utility role for the school. Whether it is cleaning windows, emptying trash or filling in as a Yoga instructor during gym class, Kime services the academy in a variety of ways.
Pam McGregor, WCA’s director of development and marketing, says Kime is an inspiration to the entire WCA community.
“He’s our special Olympian,” she said. “Everyone here [at WCA] knows him and is so proud of him.”
He says he enjoys working almost as much as he enjoys bowling, riding bikes or swimming because his job keeps him on his feet and moving when he can’t be doing those aforementioned activities.
“I like to exercise to stay healthy and keep fit,” said Kime, who also enjoys working out after school with WCA faculty members. “I do yoga, aerobics and dance, too.”
His active lifestyle has helped him become a fixture at the Summer Games for about 10 years.
Back in May, he earned his ninth trip to the annual state games after winning three swimming events – the 100 free, 200 free and 100 butterfly – at a qualifier for the state games in Hampton.
Due to a lack of funding for last year’s state games, which limited the amount of participants, Kime gave up his qualifying spot to give someone else a chance to participate.
“I didn’t mind,” Kime says of giving up his spot last year.
He made his return this summer and hopes to continue competing at the state games for as long as he can.
Given his active lifestyle, which has him in impeccable shape, it may be many years before he decides to end his Olympic career.
