Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 20, 1992 TAG: 9202200529
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARY JO SHANNON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
SPORT IS SPECIAL TO COACH
Genia Lindsey was introduced to synchronized swimming as an inner-city child in St. Louis."When I was 7 years old," she said, "I suffered severe backaches. Examinations showed I had a fractured lumbar vertebra. We never knew what caused it."
Treatment involved wearing a body cast for several months, then a brace for three years. She also missed a year of school.
When she was 10 years old, her mother discovered a synchronized-swimming class in the suburbs and enrolled her daughter, who was unable to participate in any other sport.
"My mother was a single parent," Lindsey recalled. "We didn't have much money and we didn't own a car. So three evenings each week she spent an hour on the bus taking me to class, then another hour coming to take me home. Sometimes in the winter my hair would freeze and bits would break off."
When her coach, Re Calcaterra, learned of the hardship, she began to take Lindsey home after practice.
"Calcaterra was an outstanding coach," Lindsey recalled. "She is listed in the Swimming Hall of Fame, and her daughter was world champion in the '50s. All of her teams went to the nationals in 1969-70."
Calcaterra continues to keep in touch with Lindsey and expressed pleasure that her pupil continues to be actively involved in the sport.
After her senior year in high school, Lindsey became an assistant coach in St. Louis. She had been invited to join the Santa Clara, Calif., team, the top team in the nation.
Instead, she decided to stay in St. Louis to attend St. Louis University. Although her father did not live with them, she said, he valued education and encouraged her to "become wealthy in learning."
Three teammates who also were invited to Santa Clara went on to become world champions.
Another invitation she declined in order to continue her education was to coach the Puerto Rican team for the Pan American games. At that time, she thought she should finish her master's program - coaching could be done anytime.
"Actually," she said with a hint of regret, "the reverse was true."
A part-time pediatric nurse at Community Hospital, Lindsey has earned a bachelor's degree in nursing and two master's degrees, in special education and social work. While she was attending Boston State College, she coached three teams and was a New England regional judge. She also attended Washington University and hopes to continue her education to become a licensed clinical social worker.