Local Swimmer, Born Without Stomach Muscles, Has Sights on Paralympics

With whatever life hands you, sometimes you just have to dive in. The act of diving into the water comes easily for 15-year-old Koehn Boyd– he’s been swimming since he was 8.

He and his family are members of Grace Fellowship in Brooklyn Park, where his dad is lead pastor. Koehn travels to swim with the Edina Swim Club every day. That commute is paying off.

“Someone suggested I try swimming, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Koehn said.

Koehn Boyd practices diving into the pool for a lap.

He’s well-decorated after competing for seven years. At Edina, he and his teammate Alex Allocco spend plenty of time side-by-side in healthy competition.

“We just push each other every day. We try to make each other faster. At the meets, we compete there too. I think at the end of the day, it makes us both faster,” Alex said.

Koehn has one difference that sets him apart from many of his teammates: he’s a paralympic athlete. That’s because he has prune belly syndrome, a rare condition where he was born without stomach muscles. It makes parts of swimming, like turns, more of a challenge.

“I’ve had 17 surgeries trying to help get me to where I am today,” Koehn said.

Koehn was also from Ukraine just before he turned 2. He and his siblings are a family of adoptees.

“I’m happy that I was adopted, because with my health, I was able to get the right doctors I needed and be able to get to where I am today,” Koehn said.

The opportunity has Koehn pursuing big dreams. 

“I would love to compete in LA in 2028. I would love that opportunity, that would be so cool,” said Koehn, referring to the Paralympics held in Los Angeles in 2028.

Record-Setting Speed

Joe Boyd, Koehn’s dad, said Koehn achieved three new American records in the S10 classification at the Hartford Nationals, in the short course 100-yard individual medley, short course 50-yard butterfly and the long course 50-meter butterfly. Boyd also said Koehn broke the paralympic long course 200-meter butterfly record in Rochester in late July. He said he set those times after the qualifying cutoff for the 2024 games, but hopes to compete in 2028. 

Boyd said Koehn’s health journey was unique– but all he’s been through brought him to where he is today.

“People would always say: ‘I don’t know how you do it.’ But the truth is, you do what love requires,” Koehn said.

Koehn credits his success and resilience to his family, team and faith.

“As a Christian athlete, I believe where I’m weak, God is strong,” he said. “Though I do have physical limitations, I just allow God to work through me. This is the place that I’ve really been able to accomplish my goals I’ve set out for myself.”

Brooklyn Park | Twin Cities