Most individuals think that swimming is a summer sport, but given the popularity and growth in addition to the adjoined pool/arena complexes in Canada, it’s now a year round sport.
Anyone can swim and I remember when I lived in Winnipeg watching the instructors taking small infants in the pool at an early age, first seeing them sink, then come to the top of the water and swim.
http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Luis+Silva
We are now hearing that Swimming Canada announced that they are sending 11 Para-Swimmers to the 2018 Commonwealth games that are taking place April 4th-15th on the Gold Coast in Queensland Australia.
The group headed to Gold Coast, Australia, in April includes eight members of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games team. Quadruple world-record holder Aurélie Rivard, who won four medals in Rio and was named Canada’s flag bearer, headlines the team, which also includes Rio medallists Katarina Roxon and Tess Routliffe.
Morgan Bird and Rio gold medallists Rivard and Roxon all represented Canada at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. They will join world champion and world-record holder Kylie Masse, Olympic champion Penny Oleksiak and others to bring the Canadian contingent to 37 total athletes. The swimming competition takes place from April 4-9 at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.
Canada’s Swimming Canada High Performance Director John Atkinson mentioned “The 11 swimmers who will compete in the Para-swimming events in the pool bring a wealth of international experience to the team and I am delighted that we can announce these additions to our 2018 Commonwealth Games swimming team, making an integrated team of 37 swimmers from our Olympic and Paralympic programs.”
High Performance Centre Head Coach Mike Thompson will also be traveling with the team.
He (Thompson) is also the coach of five of the 11 athletes and also brings Vince Mikuska his Para-Swimming Senior Coach with him.
Also joining the staff as Assistant team manager will be Senior Manager, National Para-swimming Programs Emma Van Steen.
Team Canada Chef de Mission Claire Carver-Dias mentioned “We congratulate all of the Para-swimmers on their nomination and look forward to cheering them on in April at the Games.”
Swimming will be well represented and it should be noted that Paralympic Benoit Huot.
His has won 19 medals at the last four Paralympic Games and while his events are not offered at the Games so will be serving as the Assistant Chef de Mission for Canada’s Team.
He (Huot) mentioned “I have followed the evolution of para-sports within the
Commonwealth Games, and swimming of course, with great price and this inclusion offers our athletes a great opportunity for increased visibility.”
He continued “This team is a great mix of youth and veterans and I look forward to supporting these athletes on site as they strive to achieve their goals in Gold Coast.”
The complete list of Para-swimming additions is below:
Women Coach
Bird Morgan Wendy Johnson
Sarah Girard Jeremy Buggerman
Sarah Mehain Peter Carpenter
Aurélie Rivard Mike Thompson
Tess Routliffe Mike Thompson
Katarina Roxon Leonard Roxon
Samantha Ryan Mike Thompson
Abi Tripp Vicki Keith
Men Coach
Jean-Michel Lavallière Mike Thompson
Philippe Vachon Charles Labrie
Zach Zona Mike Thompson
For more info contact Nathan White (613) 260 1348 extension 2002
