SEVILLE, Spain – Karley Stutzel of Victoria finished 33rd on Saturday in the women’s 10 kilometre race at the FINA World Open swimming championships.
The 10 kilometre races for the men and women this weekend are Olympic qualifying events as open water makes it Games debut this August in Beijing. The men’s race is on Sunday.
Larisa Ilchenko of Russia successfully defended her world title clocking two hours and 02:02.7 minutes. Cassandra Patten of Britain took the silver in 2:02:05.8 and Yurema Uquena of Spain was third in 2:02:07.2.
Natalie Du Toit of South Africa, a multiple Paralympic Games champion for swimmers with a disability, qualified for the Olympics finishing fourth in 2:02:07.8. The top-10 finishers earned Olympic berths as well as the top continental swimmers not in the top-10. Andreina Pinto off Venezuela grabbed the Americas bonus spot finishing 17th.
Stutzel, fourth in the event at the 2001 worlds, was 33rd and Zsofi Balazs, 17, of Toronto was 42nd. There will be a second chance to qualify for the Olympic Games at the end of the month at a test event in Beijing.
‘’We’re happy with Karly’s swim,’’ said Stutzel’s coach Ron Jacks of Victoria. ‘’She was in the mid 20’s heading into the final lap but she mistimed her water stop and fell behind. But overall she had good tactics. It was a strong field with a lot of world championship and World Cup medallists.’’
Balazs’s inexperience showed.
‘’She got muddled up in the first turn and never recovered,’’ said Jacks. ‘’Her inexperience took its toll.’’
Canada has two entries in Sunday’s men’s race with Jarrod Ballem of Calgary and Philippe Dubreuil of Sherbrooke, Que.
SEVILLE, Spain – Karley Stutzel of Victoria expects one of the roughest races in her career this Saturday in the women’s 10-kilometre event at the 5th FINA World Open Water Championships which runs until next Thursday on the calm Guadalquivir river.
The 10 kilometre races for the men and women are Olympic qualifying events as open water makes it Games debut this August in Beijing.
"It’s going to be really rough because there is so much on the line," said Stutzel, 26, fourth in the event at the 2001 world aquatic championships. "You have to be mentally prepared for the fact that you are going to get beat up a little bit and have a few bruises, bumps and scrapes when it’s all over."
In open water races there are judges who hand out yellow and red cards for illegal infractions however the really rough stuff tends to takes place underwater.
Stutzel who is coming off a difficult 2007 season both physically and emotionally says she’s in the best shape of her career.
"I would love to make the Olympic team," she said. "I’ve been training and swimming really well this year. It’s a definite possibility and I know I can do it."
Joining Stutzel in the women’s race is 17-year-old Zsofia Balazs of Toronto. They’ll race both the 10 kilometre and five kilometre events. Patricia Perreault of Quebec City is Canada’s entry in the gruelling 25 kilometre race that concludes the competition.
In Sunday’s men’s 10 kilometre, Canada has two strong entries with Philippe Dubreuil of Sherbrooke, Que., and Jarrod Ballem of Calgary.
"It’s going to be a very physical race," said Dubreuil. "It’s always more aggressive at a worlds and with Olympic spots on the line the tension should be even higher. The key is to make sure you hold your position. In the last year I’ve learned a lot about that part of the race."
Ballem and Dubreuil race the five and 10 kilometre events and Simon Tobin of Ste-Foy, Que., is entered for the 25 kilometre.
In the 10 kilometre event, the top-10 this weekend earn a nomination to their Olympic Games team. As well, the top finisher from each of the five continents (America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania) not from a nation in the top-10 also gains a nomination.
There will be a second to chance to qualify at the end of May at an Olympic test event in Beijing.
The international field in the men’s event include Grant Hackett of Australia. He is already vying for a third consecutive 1,500 metre freestyle Olympic title in the pool and will attempt to add the open water race to his Games schedule. Perennial open water champion Thomas Lurz of Germany is the favourite.
"Grant is an unknown factor in this race and he’ll be watched closely," said Dubreuil. "I think he’ll play in important role in how the race unfolds."
On the women’s side, multiple world champion Larisa Ilchenko of Russia, former world and European medal winner Rita Kovacs of Hungarry and Jana Pechanova of the Czech Republic top the field. Cassandra Patten of Britain, already qualified for the Games in the pool, tries to gain an open water spot as well.
The women’s 10 kilometre opens the competition on Saturday with the men’s race on Sunday. The men’s and women’s five kilometre races are on Tuesday May 6 and the 25 kilometre races are Thursday May 8.
The two Downing children were with their father in the change room at the swimming pool. He got them dried and dressed and had just dropped his own Speedo trunks when his daughter bolted out the door.
Only 13 months old, she didn’t so much run as totter towards the water. Her mother, working as a lifeguard, came running. Her father, his trunks pulled back up, scrambled onto the swimming deck.
Both were too slow and too late.
Little MacKenzie Downing jumped in. She splashed about before hauling herself out just as all the adults arrived.
Her overalls and sweater were soaking wet. She didn’t care. The headstrong toddler hadn't been ready to call it quits on her daily swim, so she had returned to where she was happy. These days, at 21, the University of Victoria undergraduate student remains just as eager to enter the pool. A butterfly specialist, she puts in several hours in the water every day. Downing is broad in the shoulders, narrow at the waist. A lifetime in the water has given her the ability to cut through water with ease.
“I just love being underwater,” she says. “It's a whole different world down there.”
On land, her shoulders ache and her kneecaps have the discomforting habit of popping out, a dislocation as painful as it sounds. In the water, those hurts disappear. It is where she is most comfortable.
In the water, at least, no reporters come asking questions. She is a reluctant interview, shy by nature, and, like many her age, not much given to introspection, nor to having strangers poke around her life.
Her teammates call her Yukon, after the territory in which she was born. Back home, she was a Glacial Bear. The Whitehorse swimming club hosts an annual memorial swim meet named for Ryan Downing, the brother she lost one week after his 13th birthday and just before Christmas in 1996. Ryan liked to compete in the pool and was known to never miss a practice. He collapsed during gym class one day, the result of a congenital heart defect that had gone undiagnosed. Just like that, he was gone. MacKenzie was 10. In Whitehorse, Ryan is remembered at an event in which improving your personal record trumps even a first-place finish. His sister describes him as the most influential person in her life.
Their parents had met at Queen’s University. A job offer from a mining company brought the couple north. David worked as a geologist, Jane as a lifeguard, an appropriate job for someone who had been on the university swim team. The pool became a part of the family's daily routine.
One day at poolside, a parent asked David Downing if he planned to bring the children to a weekend meet at Fort Nelson, BC, a 12-hour drive. “Oh sure,” he replied sarcastically, “I'm going to take two days off work for a 30-second race.” When he realized the other parents were doing just that, he loaded up the family for the first of uncountable marathon road trips.
Downing took a single Latin course this past term. Her days in this Olympic year were filled with intense training. She was in the pool each morning by 5:30, putting in 6,000 metres—that’s just about the distance from campus to Saanich Commonwealth Place—before breakfast. She would do some cardio work, perhaps some weights, during the day. The pool beckons again each afternoon at 5:30, during which another six kilometres will be covered.
Last fall, at the Universiade Games at Bangkok, Downing had the race of her life, winning the 100-metre butterfly in 58.88 seconds. The time was a personal best, as well as a Canadian record.
In February, she claimed four medals, including two gold, at the Canadian Interuniversity Sports swimming championships.
The stunning performances contributed to her being named UVic’s outstanding female athlete of the year. She also won the prestigious President’s Cup, which recognizes the athletic and scholastic achievements of a student in fourth or fifth year. Downing had to skip the ceremony at the Fairmount Empress on March 31, as she was in Montreal for Canada’s Olympic qualifying meet.
The next morning, she splashed into the pool as a favourite in the 100-metre butterfly. A minute later, she emerged in second place and just a shade over the Olympic cut-off. She had swum a full second slower than her national record. A second is an eternity at this level.
She had one last chance at redemption. Three days later, she raced in the 200-metre butterfly. She finished third.
It was a heartbreaking conclusion to a spectacular season. The next Olympics are scheduled for London in 2012, by which time she will be 25. Will she train and sacrifice for four more years, or pull the plug on a dream? That is one tough decision.
Some of Canada's most recognized Paralympic athletes will be at Ottawa's Clifford Bowey Public School, April 28, to launch the Canadian Paralympic Committee's Beijing 2008 Ambassador Team program.
Wheelchair racer and Paralympic multi-gold medallist Chantal Petitclerc will discuss with the students the role sport has played in her life and how support can help propel athletes to greater performances.
Petitclerc, a member of the CPC's Beijing 2008 Ambassador Team, will also take on a few of the school's teachers in a fun wheelchair race.
The other members of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Ambassador Team are swimmer Benoit Huot (Montreal, QC), swimmer Valérie Grand'Maison (Montreal, QC), runner Jason Dunkerley (Ottawa, ON), wheelchair rugby player David Willsie (London, ON), hand cyclist and Paralympic cross-country skier Shauna Maria Whyte (Hinton, AB), swimmer Kirby Coté (Winnipeg, MB), goalball player Amy Alsop (Regina, SK), swimmer Stephanie Dixon (Victoria, BC) and table tennis player Ian Kent (Eastern Passage, NS).
"The Ambassador program is aimed at increasing overall awareness of our Canadian Paralympic athletes and the Paralympic Movement in the lead up to and beyond the upcoming Beijing 2008 Paralympic Summer Games," said CPC President Carla Qualtrough, who will be in Ottawa for the program's launch. "The members of the Ambassador program will be participating in various public events, such as the Canada Day celebrations, Toronto Blue Jays Game, Saskatchewan Roughriders Game, to raise awareness of the role sport can play in the lives of Canadians with a physical disability."
Competitors, coaches, officials and spectators all had a great time at the 2008 Wavemaker Invitational!
As always, huge thanks to everybody who helped… swim meets are impossible to stage without a legion of volunteers, and everybody who pitched in to help was terrific.
Congratulations to the following UVPCS event winners: Genna Bertrand, Salin Bol, Sophia Borchers, Emily Ding, Caileigh Filmer, Ryan Howe, Ryan Kelm, Evan Letkeman, Casey Logan, Mackenzie Masterton, Lauren McMillan, Rachael Newman, Austin Nolt, Zac Parkes, Aidan Thirkell and Daniel Vindisch.
Filling out the top-3 positions in their respective age groups were our swimmers Karl Carriere, Hanna Carter, Michael Harmon de Clare, Daniel Hatenboer, Ryan Kelm, Braonain Masterton, Callum Masterton, Victoria Mock, Rosie Moulton, Stephen Olmos, Akila Sato-Gaudreau, Jade Simpas and Tabitha Zammit.
Additional top-8 UVPCS finalists were Shanae Atkinson, Emma Carter, Morgan Darke, Megan Ewing, Ana Garcia, Ryan Gibson, Samantha Gibson, Kaela Guptill, Niv Hack, Justin Howe, Abby Irving, Victoria Jetko, Jessica Jiang, Nazif Khedri, Alexandra Kierstead, Nazarly Kravchenko, Edward Liang, Sofia Liang, Annie MacIntosh, Lindsay MacIsaac, Clara MacKenzie, Ana MacLeod, Heather Macmillan, Lisa McQuarrie, Madison Rosene, Delaney Tesch, Riley Tesch, Grace Thomas, Rebecca Thomson, Heidi Ullrich, Brenden Ward, John Willcox, Brook Willis, Shannon Wong and Leanna Woo.
The Wavemaker also resulted in several new long course team records, and congratulations to the following: Callum Masterton - Men 10 & Under 200 Breaststroke (4:03.67) Ryan Kelm - Men 11-12 50 Breaststroke (44.27) Zac Parkes - Men 13-14 50 Breaststroke (34.36) & 100 Breaststroke (1:16.92)
And definitely not least, congratulations to the following swimmers who achieved new time standards. VIR 10 & under Standards Riley Tesch - AAA Callum Masterton - AA John Willcox - AA Lauren Gateley - A Justin Howe - A Heather McMillan - A
Provincial Standards Age 11 Abby Irving - AAA Sophia Liang - AA Victoria Mock - AA Annie MacIntosh - A
Age 12 Emily Ding - AAA Ryan Howe - AAA Ryan Kelm - AA Ana MacLeod - AA Braonain Masterton - AA Karl Carriere - A Amanda Craft - A Daniel Hatenboer - A
Age 13 Sophia Borchers - AAA Mackenzie Masterton - AA Nazarly Kravchenko - A
Age 14 Daniel Vindisch - AAA
Well done, coaches and swimmers! For complete results, please see our results page..
The Morning Swim Show: Paralympian Stephanie Dixon Talks About Growing Up With A Disabilty and What Swimming Has Brought to Her Life --
PHOENIX, Arizona, April 10. In addition to the able-bodied athletes selected at last weekend's Canadian Olympic Trials, the Canadian Paralympic Team was nominated at the same meet.
In Thursday's edition of The Morning Swim Show, host Brent Rutermiller talks to Canadian Paralympian Stephanie Dixon about growing up with one leg and what she has learned about herself and others with a disability since she started swimming in the Paralympic division.
The final day of competition at Montreal Beijing Trials saw Stephanie Dixon take the B-final top place for ninth overall in the SWAD 50 Freestyle... AND, on the basis of results throughout the competition including a new Canadian record in the 400 Freestyle, a trip to Beijing representing Canada at the 2008 Paralympic Games.
Stephanie holds 11 World Records (5 Long Course & 6 Short Course) and this will be her third Paralympics.
Congratulations Stephanie and coaches Ron Jacks and Peter Vizsolyi!!
Day 5 at Trials saw competition in the women's 100 Freestyle, 50 & 100 SWAD Butterfly and 200 Breaststroke, with the men competing in 200 Backstroke, 50 & 100 SWAD Butterfly, 100 Butterfly and 1500 Freestyle.
Stephanie Dixon, in her fifth day of evening swims, took fourth in the 100 SWAD Butterfly. Congratulations, Steph!
Tomorrow completes six days of competition at the Canadian Beijing Trials. Fast swimming and bonne chance to all!
Day four of six in Montreal saw competition in women's 200 IM, 100 SWAD Freestyle, 200 Butterfly and 800 Freestyle, and the men's 100 Freestyle and 100 SWAD Freestyle.
UVPCS brought home two more medals - Stephanie Dixon took Silver in the 100 Freestyle SWAD event, and MacKenzie Downing took the Bronze in 200 Butterfly. Congratulations Stephanie and MacKenzie!
Competition continues through the weekend; continued good luck and fast swimming to all!
Day three in Montreal saw racing in women's 200 Freestyle, men's 200 Butterfly and 200 Breaststroke, and both men's and women's SWAD 200 IM. Evening finals saw Stephanie Dixon, in her third evening of finals, take fourth place in the 200 IM, just slightly off her Canadian record. She set a new Canadian record in the 400 Freestyle on Wednesday.
Competition continues through Sunday. Fast swimming and good luck to everybody!
Stephanie Dixon & Nick Sinclair Photo credit: Margaret Penning
UVPCS Stephanie Dixon was the Bronze medalist tonight in the 100 SWAD Backstroke event at the CN Swimming Beijing Trials in Montreal. Congratulations, Stephanie! Also swimming this evening, Nicholas Sinclair was 12th overall from the B-final 100 Backstroke event.
MacKenzie Downing and Stephanie Dixon both took Silver medals tonight, in the 100 Butterfly and 400 SWAD Freestyle, respectively. Stephanie set a new Canadian S9 record with her swim, bettering her own previous mark. Congratulations to Stephanie and MacKenzie!
It was the first night of competition at CN Spring National Championships-Beijing Trials, with competition continuing through Sunday. Check out the live results and web streaming at the SNC site ... and good luck and fast swimming to everybody in the days to come!
University of Victoria fourth-year swimmer MacKenzie Downing received top honours at the Vikes Athletics Annual Awards Banquet Monday evening at the Fairmont Empress. Downing was awarded the Female Outstanding Athlete of the Year and the President's Cup award.
Downing added the two awards to her long list of accomplishments realized during her incredible 2007-08 season, which she hopes also includes an Olympic berth. The Whitehorse native was absent from the ceremonies as the butterfly specialist is currently attending the Canadian Olympic Swimming trials in Montreal.
The President's Cup, the Vikes most prestigious award, recognizes an outstanding student-athlete in fourth or fifth year, who best combines scholastic achievement and athletics ability. Downing, also an Academic All-Canadian, was Canada's most decorated athlete at the FISU Summer Universiade before winning four medals at the Canada West and CIS Championships. At the CIS National Championships in February, Downing won gold in both the 100m and 200m fly, and took bronze in the 50m fly and 4x100 medley relay to lead the Vikes to a fourth place team finish.
Here is a short note from the Swim BC 12 & under Regional Development Camp in Nanaimo. Congratulations to ... Salin Bol, Sophia Borchers, Emily Ding, Caleigh Filmer, Ryan Howe, Lauren MacMillan, Braonain Masterton and Stephen Olmos ... on their performances at the 12 & under Regional Camp in Nanaimo on Sunday. (Austin Nolt and Stefanie Schmidt were unable to attend.)
All athletes represented themselves, their region and their club well. We had many improved skills and lots of great PCS examples in leadership, racing and skill development over the seven hour camp. Well done all!
Thank you to Nanaimo and Swim BC for their efforts in putting the camp together. Coach Rod Barratt
The University of Victoria and Pacific Coast Swimming have a proud history when it comes to the Olympic Games - coaches Ron Jacks and Peter Vizsolyi have sent swimmers to every Games since 1976.
In 2004, UVPCS sent two swimmers to the Olympic-Paralympic Games – Nathan O’Brien (Olympics – 200 Backstroke) and Stephanie Dixon (Paralympian & World Record Holder – Backstroke, Freestyle). As well, Ron Jacks was a 2004 Paralympic Team Coach.
With their final preparations almost completed, UVic and PCS swimmers and coaches are now in Montreal waiting for their chance to compete in the 2008 CN Swimming Trials. The action begins on Tuesday, April 1st (no, it’s not a joke!). A dozen athletes from UVPCS are competing in the meet for a spot on the team heading to the Olympic & Paralympic Games in Beijing this summer.
Here’s our Team. Let’s cheer them on!
Ryan Clouston - UVPCS/UVic Stephanie Dixon - UVPCS/UVic MacKenzie Downing - UVPCS/UVic Danielle Poland - RAC/UVic Hollis Roth - UVPCS/UVic Jeff Saganski - GOLD/UVic Kyle Scarff - UVPCS Annicka Schmuck - LOSC/UVic Nicholas Sinclair - UVPCS Jenna Thomas - BRSA/UVic David Vizsolyi - UVPCS/UVic Jayme Weimer – UVPCS
Coaches: Ron Jacks & Peter Vizsolyi
As well, in May in Seville, Spain, Karley Stutzel will compete for Canada at the FINA World Open Water Championships, which serve as the Open Water Beijing Trials.
Watch our website for daily updates from Montreal. Also, rumor has it that portions of the meet will be televised on CBC.
They travelled, they trained, they triumphed! Photo credit: ?
Welcome home to B-Group denizens from their Spring Break training camp in Florida. Reliable sources report that in addition to swimming, B-groupers honed their cooking skills ... parents, take note!
UVPCS swimmer Stephanie Dixon was awarded a 2008 Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund bursary today. Congratulations, Stephanie! ---------------------------------------------------------
OTTAWA – AthletesCAN and Investors Group are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008 Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund bursary.
In keeping with their commitment to amateur sport in Canada, Investors Group established a bursary fund for Canada’s top amateur athletes. A national leader in delivering personalized financial solutions to Canadians, Investors Group annually awards twenty $5,000 bursaries to assist Canada’s elite amateur athletes with the costs of training and competition. Selection criteria includes: athletic achievement, financial need and community involvement. Since its inception in 2000, the Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund has provided $900,000 to Canadian athletes. AthletesCAN administers the bursary on behalf of Investors Group.
UVPCS swimmers Salin Bol, Sophia Borchers, Emily Ding, Caileigh Filmer, Ryan Howe, Braonain Masterton, Lauren McMillan, Austin Nolt, Stephen Olmos and Stefanie Schmidt have been selected to attend the Swim BC - Vancouver Island Region 12 & under Development Training Camp.
Swimmers were selected to the camp by Swim BC based on placings and FINA points during the 2007-2008 short course season, with the age-up date set at March 30, 2008. The camp will be in Nanaimo at the end of March.
Congratulations all, and to their coaches Mark Lancaster and Rod Barratt!
Spring Break is here! Gordon Head Pool is offering a special Lightning Fast Spring Break Series, suitable for all three levels of the Lightning Fast Swim Series, from Monday March 17th through Thursday March 20th. For details, contact Gordon Head Pool, at 250-475-7110.
While some of our swimmers and coaches were in Vancouver this past weekend at Senior LC Provincials, others attended the Comox 3-club mini-meet. Swimmers, coaches and parents had a long travel day with an early start from Victoria, and the meet was in the old Comox pool. Some parents and kids took advantage of a quick swim meet and went up to the ski hill for some tobogganing fun and snowball wars afterwards!
Event winners included Amanda Craft, Victoria Jetko, Stephen Olmos, Akila Sato-Gaudreau and Leanna Woo, with relay winners Lindsay MacIsaac, Victoria Jetko, Leanna Woo and Amanda Craft. Other swimmers with best times and great placings included Ana Garcia, Lia Lancaster, Lindsay MacIsaac, Ariyan Suleman and Sarah Suleman. Congratulations all!
As always, you can find links to complete results from our results page.
A small and dedicated group of UVPCS swimmers and coaches journeyed to Vancouver to attend the TAS BC Senior Championships in the long course (LC) 50m UBC pool this past weekend. The meet usually features a small but fast field of competitors, and is unusual in that only the top 4 heats qualifiers participate in the evening A-final, with the next 8 qualifiers entering the B-final.
Seven of our swimmers brought home medals and all of the team earned evening swims.
Silver Nicholas Sinclair – 50 Backstroke David Vizsolyi – 200 Butterfly (David was also 5th in 400 Freestyle and 6th in 100 Butterfly)
Bronze Kyle Scarff – 200 Breaststroke (Kyle was also 6th in 100 Breaststroke) Nicholas Sinclair – 100 & 200 Backstroke Ryan Clouston – 400 IM
A-finalists also included Hollis Roth (4th in 100 & 200 Butterfly and 200 IM) and Annika Schmuck (4th in 200 Breaststroke; Annika was also 6th in 200 IM & 100 Breaststroke). Stephanie Dixon was 7th 400 Freestyle and 11th in 100 Backstroke.
Congratulations to all the swimmers and coaches Ron Jacks and Peter Vizsolyi. Further congratulations on the new UVPCS 15-17 long course records achieved by Nick Sinclair (50, 100 & 200 Backstroke) and Kyle Scarff (200 Breaststroke).
As always, you can find links to complete results from our results page.
WOW .... congratulations and thanks to everybody for an amazing meet ... UVPCS hosted the 2008 Team Aquatic Supplies Provincial Age-Group Championships at Saanich Commonwealth Place from February 28 - March 2, 2008. There were more than 600 swimmers present representing 39 teams from across the province and the Yukon. The meet was a resounding success!
These Provincial Championships heralded a new age group format with single age group finals for ages 12 through 15, and new 11 & under and 16-17 age categories, along with the 10 & under Swim Stars competition.
… and included relay medalists: 12 & under 200 Medley Relay Silver – Stefanie Schmidt, Sophia Borchers, Genna Bertrand & Salin Bol 17 & under 200 Medley & 200 Freestyle Relays Bronze – Nicholas Sinclair, Kyle Scarff, Daniel Borowiecki & William Yolland
… with additional top-8 finalists Genna Bertrand, Daniel Borowiecki, Evan Letkeman, Lauren McMillan, Remy Mock, Victoria Mock, Zac Parkes, Julia Schmidt and Jayme Weimer.
Congratulations to new Westerns qualifiers Rachael Newman and Stefanie Schmidt!
Congratulations as well for new UVPCS records set by Nicholas Sinclair (15-17 200 & 400 Freestyle and 400 IM), 11-12 Female 200 Medley Relay (Stefanie Schmidt, Sophia Borchers, Genna Bertrand & Salin Bol) and 15-17 Male 200 & 800 Freestyle Relays (Nicholas Sinclair, Kyle Scarff, Daniel Borowiecki & William Yolland)!
Congratulations to all our swimmers and coaches Mark Lancaster, Rod Barratt and Ron Jacks, and thanks again to all our wonderful PCS and Vikes volunteers and friends, as well as parents and friends from other teams who lent a hand.
As always, check out complete results from our results page.
The Vikes swim team attended the Canadian Inter-University (CIS) Swimming Championships in Vancouver from February 21-23, 2008 and came away from the meet with some great results. Team members included Whitney Buczkowski, Ryan Clouston, Lauren Daniels, MacKenzie Downing, Cody Flegel, Kurt Grossman, Selena Light, Hollis Roth, Jeff Saganski, Annika Schmuck, Anne Schmuck and David Vizsolyi with coach Peter Vizsolyi.
In the medals, MacKenzie Downing struck Gold in both 100 and 200 Butterfly; her 100 Butterfly time was good for a new CIS record. She also earned a Silver medal in 50 Butterfly and was fifth in the 100 Freestyle. Her 100 Freestyle time set a new Vikes record. Also in the medals, the women’s 400 Medley Relay team of Whitney Buczkowski, Anne Schmuck, MacKenzie Downing and Lauren Daniels earned the Bronze.
Individual top-8 finalists also included Whitney Buczkowski, Ryan Clouston, Hollis Roth, Jeff Saganski, Anne Schmuck, Annika Schmuck and David Vizsolyi, with additional top-16 finishes by Danielle Poland, Lauren Daniels and Cody Flegel.
The women’s team finished in fourth position, with the men ninth. Congratulations, everybody!
Some race videos are available on YouTube - for example, check out the Women's 200 Butterfly final.
Complete results are available, as always, from our results page.
In Sunday evening finals Karley Stutzel took the Silver medal and set a new UVPCS club record, by more than five seconds, in the 800 Freestyle event. Teammate MacKenzie Downing came up Bronze in the same race and Nicholas Sinclair was fourth in the 50 Backstroke event. Nick was also 15th overall in the 100 Butterfly B-final. Also in B- and C-finals, Kyle Scarff was 15th overall in the 100 Breaststroke and David Vizsolyi was 20th in 100 Butterfly.
Rounding out the evening’s top-8 performances, the 400 Medley Relay team Nicholas Sinclair, Kyle Scarff, David Vizsolyi and Cody Flegel placed eighth.
Congratulations to all our swimmers and coaches, and good luck to the University swimmers at the CIS Championships next weekend!
Complete results are available, as always, from our results page.
Day 3 at Westerns saw UVPCS with more evening swims and top-8 placings. MacKenzie Downing started the evening with a Silver medal in the 200 Butterfly. Also in 200 Butterfly, David Vizsolyi finished eighth – and David earned his first Senior National qualifying time in the morning heats. Nicholas Sinclair placed seventh in the 200 Backstroke; Nick was also eleventh overall from the 200 Butterfly B-final.
In B- and C-finals, Jayme Weimer was twelfth overall in 100 Freestyle, while both Ben Partridge and Kyle Scarff were 22nd in 200 Backstroke and 200 Breaststroke, respectively.
The women’s 800 Freestyle Relay team placed fifth – Karley Stutzel, MacKenzie Downing, Nicole DeGoeij and Jayme Weimer, while the men - Ryan Clouston, David Creel, Tyler Smith and Nicholas Sinclair were tenth.
Competition continues through Sunday. Bonne chance and continued fast swimming to all!
This is the weekend for the Swim-Natation Canada (SNC) Eastern and Western Canadian Championships. Easterns are taking place in Etobicoke, Ontario. Western Canadian Championships takes place in Victoria at Saanich Commonwealth Place.
UVPCS is fielding a team including Naomi Casiro, Ryan Clouston, David Creel, Nicole DeGoeij, Stephanie Dixon, MacKenzie Downing, Cody Flegel, Alison Hooper, Jacob McKee, Ben Partridge, Liz Pharo, Jovanna Ruffolo, Kyle Scarff, Julia Schmidt, Nicholas Sinclair, Liz Sissons, Tyler Smith, Karley Stutzel, David Vizsolyi and Jayme Weimer, with coaches Rod Barratt, Ron Jacks and Peter Vizsolyi.
On Thursday, the first evening of competition, Karley Stutzel won 1500 Freestyle Gold. Her swim was just off her Provincial record set at the Xmas Cracker this past December. And, on Friday night Karley took the 400 Freestyle Silver medal in a personal best time.
The first two days of competition also saw David Creel with an 800 Freestyle fourth place and Nicholas Sinclair with fourth in 100 Backstroke, while Cody Flegel finished twelfth from the 50 Freestyle B-final.
Competition continues Saturday and Sunday. Watch this site for news and follow the event through live results and finals through live webstream.
UVPCS swimmers trekked north to Campbell River this past weekend, had a great time, and brought home a bunch of best times and ribbons. Michael Harmon de Clare and Victoria Mock were event winners; top-3 finishers also included Ryan Gibson and Jana Murphy, with top-8 finishers Ana Garcia, Samantha Gibson, Victoria Jetko, Alexandra Kierstead, Rosie Moulton, Austin Nolt, Stephen Olmos and Rebecca Thomson. Victoria M., Jana, Austin and Stephen were top-8 in all their events!!
Further note must be made of Victoria Mock, our new AAA qualifier!
Congratulations to all and to coach Mark Lancaster!
Complete results are available, as always, from our results page.
A team of nine UVPCS swimmers traveled to Saskatoon January 31st – February 3rd for the Manitoba-Saskatchewan SC Provincial Championships. It was cold on the Prairies but our team cranked up the competitive heat - coach Rod reports great teamwork and cheering!
Congratulations to Gold medalists Sophia Borchers and Aidan Thirkell, Silver medalists Jacob McKee and Stefanie Schmidt and Bronze medalist Daniel Borowiecki. Cole Barratt, Salin Bol and Rachael Newman were also top-8 finalists, and Melanie Yu achieved 100% best times in her first Provincials.
In all, the team returned with twelve medals, thirty-one top-8 finishes, three new Age Group National qualifiers (Stefanie Schmidt, Daniel Borowiecki and Jacob McKee), one new Western qualifier (Jacob McKee) and bunches of best times.
Congratulations to all and to coach Rod Barratt!
Complete results are available, as always, from our results page.
UVPCS Vikes swimmers returned to Victoria from cold and snowy Edmonton and the Canada West University Championships this past weekend.
MacKenzie Downing lead the way with a meet record and Gold in the 100 Butterfly, another Gold for the 200 Butterfly and the 200 Freestyle Bronze, while Whitney Buczkowski was Silver in 50 Backstroke. Both men's and women's relay teams took Bronze: the 400 Freestyle Relay of Cody Flegel, Kurt Grossman, Jeff Saganski and Ryan Clouston, and the 400 Medley Relay with Whitney Buczkowski, Anne Schmuck, MacKenzie Downing and Lauren Daniels. Additional top-8 placings went to Lauren Daniels, Ben Partridge, Danielle Poland, Hollis Roth, Jeff Saganski, Anne Schmuck and David Vizsolyi.
Congratulations to Vikes and coach Peter Vizsolyi! Complete results are available, as always, from our results page.
UVic and PCS swimmers took the lead representing UVPCS at this year’s Aquatics for Arthritis relay event held Saturday at Saanich Commonwealth Place – coach Ron Jacks was at a FINA Open Water World Cup 10 km event in Brazil and coach Peter Vizsolyi at the Canada West University Championships in Edmonton.
The objective was to swim as far as possible in fifteen minutes, with four swimmers completing 25-meter sprints in a continuous relay. Team PCS consisted of Nicole DeGeoij, Alison Hooper, Marija Kopac and Julia Schmidt, with Team UVic represented by Sarah Friesen, Jackie Langlais, Jocelyn Light and Liz Sissons.
Together our teams raised $1,255 for this very worthwhile cause. Thanks to the swimmers, coaches and parents who donated their time and money for this worthwhile cause. Thanks also to Swim BC for organising this event!
Congratulations to all our UVPCS swimmers and coaches on their fine performances in Nanaimo at the Vancouver Island Region (VIR) Short Course Championships this past weekend. Highlights included a plethora of best times, top-8 and medal finishes.
Our Gold medalists were Salin Bol, Sophia Borchers, Nicole DeGoeij, Ryan Howe, Victoria Mock, Kyle Scarff, Stefanie Schmidt, Nicholas Sinclair, Tyler Smith and Jayme Weimer.
Silver and Bronze medalists included Cole Barratt, Daniel Borowiecki, Caileigh Filmer, Cody Flegel, Brittany Fox, Alison Hooper, Abby Irving, Braonain Masterton, Jacob McKee, Remy Mock, Rachael Newman, Austin Nolt, Zac Parkes, Jovanna Ruffolo and Akila Sato-Gaudreau.
Further top-8 finalists were Genna Bertrand, Emily Ding, Sarah Friesen, Michael Harmon de Clare, Evan Letkeman, Casey Logan, Lauren McMillan, Julia Schmidt, Jade Simpas, Liz Sissons, Aidan Thirkell and William Yolland.
And, congratulations last but definitely not least to the following swimmers and their coaches for achieving new time standards- Abby Irving - 10 & under Provincial AAA Salin Bol - 11 years Provincial AAA Aidan Thirkell - 13 years Age Group Nationals
Complete results are available, as always, from our results page.
Congratulations to everybody on their best times, first swims and terrific efforts at last weekend’s PCS VIR mini-meet at Saanich Commonwealth Place – we had a great time with swimmers and coaches from the Ladysmith-Chemainus Swim Club, Port Alberni Tsunami and Greater Victoria Aquatic Club. Thanks to everybody who helped make this mini-meet a success!
The following athletes achieved new time standards at the mini-meet and special kudos to them and their coaches!!
New Vancouver Island Regional (VIR) standards: Erica Kelm – VIR 10 & under “A” Ana Adams – VIR 10 & under “AA” Abby Irving - 10 & under - VIR “AAA”
New Provincial standards: Savannah Barratt & Sophia Liang - Provincial 11 & under “A” Austin Nolt - Provincial 11 & under “AA” Michael Harmon de Clare Provincial 12 “AA”
Complete results are available, as always, from our results page.
Christmas in Mexico Photo credit: Lynne Testemale, Hollis Roth, Ron Jacks and ??
UVPCS senior swimmers and coaches spent their holidays at a training camp in La Paz, Mexico. They travelled south in two waves, both before and after Christmas, when they were also joined by the West Van Otters senior group. Sun and beach also made for some good holiday relaxation. Welcome home!
Pacific Coast Swimming and the University of Victoria Vikes Swim Team are again participating in the Swim BC Aquatics for Arthritis Fundraiser, which takes place this year on Saturday, January 26, 2008 from noon to 3pm at Saanich Commonwealth Place. The purpose of the event is to raise both money and awareness about the importance of an active lifestyle. As with all the Swim BC Aquatics for Arthritis teams, half the money each team raises will go to the Arthritis Foundation, while the other half will support our teams. For more information, please visit the Swim BC information page and the Aquatics for Arthritis web site.
Swim BC has announced Team BC for the Pacific Coast (no relation) All-Star Meet in Carson City, Nevada, January 11 - 13, 2008. Selection to the team was based on performances done in October 1 - December 9, 2007, amongst provincial 11-12 and 13-14 year old swimmers. UVPCS swimmer Stefanie Schmidt will be representing the province at the meet. The complete story can be found here.
Congratulations to Stefanie and coach Rod Barratt!
1 territory + 2 provinces + 3 days + 19 teams + a little bit of snow = FUN & FAST SWIMMING!!
Thanks to everybody who helped make this a great meet!!
Congratulations to all the swimmers and their coaches on their terrific performances!
UVPCS event winners were Alyssa Bakken, Sophia Borchers, Whitney Buczkowski, David Creel, MacKenzie Downing, Kurt Grossman, Zac Parkes, Jeff Saganski, Kyle Scarff, Anne Schmuck, Nicholas Sinclair, Stefanie Schmidt, Karley Stutzel and Jenna Thomas.
Also in finals top-3 were Ryan Clouston, Nicole DeGoeij, Cody Flegel, Michael Harmon de Clare, Evan Letkeman, Remy Mock, Rachael Newman, Ben Partridge, Danielle Poland, Annika Schmuck, David Vizsolyi and Jayme Weimer.
Rounding out the top-8 were Cole Barratt, Genna Bertrand, Salin Bol, Daniel Borowiecki, Kim Bryan, Naomi Casiro, Caileigh Filmer, Brittany Fox, Ryan Gibson, Ryan Howe, Casey Logan, Robert Mayall, Lauren McMillan, Liz Pharo, Jovanna Ruffolo, Julia Schmidt, Jade Simpas, Liz Sissons, Tyler Smith and Aidan Thirkell.
Achievements included:
New Provincial Record Karley Stutzel - 1500 Free, 16:18.22
New UVic Record MacKenzie Downing - 100 Freestyle, 56.48 (breaking a 1986 record set by Olympian, Pam Rai)
Stephanie Dixon spent her time profitably last weekend in College Park, Maryland, at the Can-Am SWAD Championships. She will be returning to Victoria with six Gold medals (50, 100 & 200 Backstroke, 100 Butterfly, 400 & 800 Freestyle) and one Silver (100 Freestyle). Her 800 Freestyle time set a new Canadian S9 record.
Congratulations to Stephanie and her coaches Ron Jacks and Peter Vizsolyi!!
Complete results are available from our results page.
Karley Stutzel set up the Xmas Cracker nicely on Friday evening with a Provincial record in the 1500 Freestyle. Karley clocked 16:18.22 to break the old record, set in 2003 by Brittany Reimer, by nearly 4 seconds.
Congratulations to Karley and coaches Ron Jacks and Peter Vizsolyi!!
Stephanie Dixon won two more gold medals in Maryland on Friday at the Can-Am SWAD Championships, in the 200 backstroke and 400-metre freestyle. On Thursday Stephanie won Gold in 50 Backstroke, 100 Butterfly and 800 Freestyle.
Swim-Natation Canada (SNC) has posted the results from the 5km Pool Championships - congratulations to UVPCS on stellar results. Our women swept the first three positions, with the men in first and third. Congratulations to Karley Stutzel, Anne Schmuck and MacKenzie Downing, and David Creel and Nicholas Sinclair. Complete results are available from our results page.
VICTORIA - In celebration of Dr. Peter Vizsolyi's 25th year as Head Coach of the Vikes swim team, the University of Victoria and UVic Vikes Swimming Alumni chapter unveiled the Swimming Circle of Excellence at a ceremony Saturday night.
The special recognition ceremony took place Saturday evening at the Victoria Art Gallery. Over 100 swim alumni and current varsity-athletes were in attendance.
The Circle of Excellence is a hierarchy of recognition, acknowledging the outstanding accomplishments of Vikes swimmers. The recipients will be adorned on banners, which will be displayed on the walls of McKinnon Pool.
There are three levels of distinction: Platinum, Gold, and Blue.
Platinum represents swimmers who have represented Canada at the Olympics and/or World Championships. Gold represents swimmers who have represented Canada at the Commonwealth Games, Pan-American Games, Pan-Pacific Games, FISU Universiade, or Swimming Canada gold medalists. Blue represents swimmers who have won a Swimming Canada silver or bronze medal, or CIS medal.
The Vikes also celebrated the 25th year of service of head coach Dr. Peter Vizsolyi. Since taking over the program in 1983, nine Vikes swimmers have competed in the Olympic games, 47 have won medals in major international competition, and 243 medals have been won at the CIS National Championships. Dr. Vizsolyi was also named CIS Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1998.
Circle of Excellence Inductees Platinum Kim Dyke Mike Edgson Jon Kelly Wayne Kelly Corrine Compton (Liedtke) Marie Moore Christin Petelski Pam Rai Greg Streppel Suzanne Weckend
Gold Rod Archibald Anne Barnes Danielle Bell Fin Donnelly Jesse Jacks Serge Score John Stamhuis Tanya Tighe Dino Verbrugge Phil Weiss
Blue Patty Schmidt (Armstrong) Allison Barriscale Glen Cairns Josee Dubois Stephanie Howes Jason Hunter Jeremy Jaud Dave MacDonald Judy Newman Alison Noble Brett O'Meara Marlena Stubbings (Prill) Janet Rushcall Cathy Rushcall Jenny Wear Lisa Woods
Note: Athletes are included in the Circle of Excellence as they retire from swimming, so that currently active athletes who meet these requirements are not (yet) listed.
A numerically small but nonetheless mighty group of PCS 10 & under swimmers set off to Vancouver on a snowy Saturday morning for the VPSC 10 & under Challenge meet. They returned with some great results (and more snow).
Coach Mark Lancaster reports: The kids had a great time and swam fast! Highlights included Alethea Toh placing second in aggregate points for 9 & unders; with Caileigh Filmer (5th), Vicky Mock (6th), Victoria Jetko (10th) and Sofia Liang (21st) amongst 10 & unders. Alethea and Caileigh received trophies for their accomplishments. As well, Alethea set a new 10 & under club record for 50 Fly, with Vicky Mock narrowly missing the same record.
Congratulations all!
As always, for complete results, see our results or the SNC meets pages.
MacKenzie Downing finished the Bell Grand Prix on Sunday evening in the same style she began, winning her third Gold medal in as many days. Sunday's award was for the 200 Butterfly, giving MacKenzie a Golden hat trick - 50, 100 and 200 Butterfly.
Congratulations again to MacKenzie and coaches Ron Jacks and Peter Vizsolyi!
UVPCS swimmer MacKenzie Downing captured 50 Butterfly Gold this evening at the Bell Grand Prix in Toronto. This is an unusual meet in that heats are contested in short course (SC) format, while finals take place in the long course (LC) pool. MacKenzie's winning time tied her Provincial LC record from August 2007. Congratulations to MacKenzie and coaches Ron Jacks and Peter Vizsolyi!
Photo credit: Jim Hockley & Penny McCulloch-Barratt
What do you get with over 130 swimmers on the pool deck wearing blue lightning bolts and fueled with success?
ENERGY!! That's what you get...pure ENERGY!
PCS swimmers came together last night to receive awards and recognition, listen to open water swimmer Karley Stutzel's story of success, and swim together in all-ages relays. To see these smiles and to see these athletes working together, caring about each other and supporting each other makes us all smile and fuels our commitment to the sport of swimming. Have a look at these pictures and be proud of the time and energy EACH swimmer puts into their sport.
The following are our top swimmers by age group from the 2006-2007 season. Congratulations!
10 & Under - Lauren MacMillan and Ryan Howe 11-12 - Rachael Newman and Evan Letkeman 13-14 - Alyssa Bakken and Zac Parkes 15-17 - Nicole Crawford and Nick Sinclair Senior - MacKenzie Downing and Dave Creel Open Water - Dave Creel
Thanks again to Karley Stutzel who reminded us that fear of failure affects our chances at success. Swimmers - box up that fear and send it away. Make room for the successes that come from hard work, persistence and a positive attitude.
We will see you ALL at the Christmas Cracker! Pacific Coast Swimming has proven time and again that we have excellent meet organization, superb hospitality, great volunteer spirit and fun, fast meets!
Fast swimming to everybody in the coming year! SWIM, SWIMMER, SWIM!
UVPCS had a great time at the Pacific Cup over the weekend, despite several swimmers being felled by the dreaded Fall cough and cold (get well soon, everybody!).
Congratulations to event winners Alyssa Bakken, Whitney Buczkowski, Dave Creel, Anne Schmuck, Annika Schmuck and Karley Stutzel. Our top-3 finishers included Sophia Borchers, Ryan Clouston, MacKenzie Downing, Kurt Grossman, Alison Hooper, Zac Parkes, Ben Partridge, Jeff Saganski, Kyle Scarff, Stefanie Schmidt, David Vizsolyi and Jayme Weimer. And, further top-8 finalists were Naomi Casiro, Lauren Daniels, Cody Flegel, Evan Letkeman, Selena Light, Robert Mayall, Liz Pharo, Danielle Poland, Jade Simpas, Jenna Thomas and William Yolland.
Three team records were broken at the meet - Kyle Scarff set new standards in 15-17 100 and 200 SC Breaststroke, while Zac Parkes is the new record holder for 13-14 100 SC Breaststroke. Congratulations!
As always, complete results are available on our results page.
Congratulations to UVPCS on a terrific mainland weekend – our team returned home the winners of the 2007 SFU Cup International Meet, with 264.5 points to University of Alberta’s 238 and Simon Fraser’s own 235.5; the Shanxi Provincial Swim Team from China finished fourth with 225 points.
MacKenzie Downing led the pack with wins in 100, 200 & 400 Freestyle and 50, 100 & 200 Butterfly. Teammates Nicholas Sinclair (400 IM) and Whitney Buczkowski (50, 100 Backstroke) joined MacKenzie with first place finishes. Top-3 finishers also included Ryan Clouston, Lauren Daniels, Ben Partridge, Hollis Roth, Jeff Saganski and Anne Schmuck; other finalists were Kim Bryan, Naomi Casiro, Stephanie Dixon, Cody Flegel, Kurt Grossman, Selena Light, Annika Schmuck and David Vizsolyi.
Congratulations to coaches Peter Vizsolyi, Ron Jacks and the entire team! Complete results are available, as usual, on our results page.
Left: Swim BC Executive Director Mark Schuett presents MacKenzie Downing with prize money Right: Thanks to Saturday's referees Photo credit: Margaret Penning
UVPCS hosted the first Team Aquatic Supplies-Swim BC Senior Circuit meet of the season, which concluded Saturday with awards for the top five high-point swims. UVPCS's MacKenzie Downing placed fourth in total points score, good for $150 in prize money. MacKenzie won the 200 & 100 Butterfly, was second in 200 & 400 Freestyle, and third in 100 Freestyle.
Also with top-3 finishes, Anne Schmuck won the women's 400 IM, while Jeff Saganski placed second in 100 & 200 Butterfly, Cody Flegel was second in 50 Freestyle, and Nicholas Sinclair placed third in 200 Backstroke.
Other UVPCS top-8 finishers included Alyssa Bakken, Whitney Buczkowski, Stephanie Dixon, Kurt Grossman, Selena Light, Ben Partridge, Danielle Poland, Hollis Roth, Jovanna Ruffolo, Annika Schmuck, Kyle Scarff and Jayme Weimer.
As always, for complete results see the live results link on our results page, and the official record at the SNC Meet Results page.
The October inaugural Mini-Meet featured fun and fast times at SCP for UVPCS, GVAC, Duncan and Ladysmith swimmers. Thanks to everyone who helped, and congratulations on the first swims of the year! You can find the live results on our results page, and the official record at the SNC Meet Results page.
Karley Stutzel took the Silver medal, and a berth to the World Open Water Championships, at the National Open Water Championships in Fort Myers, Florida this weekend. Karley was about 2.5 seconds behind winner Szofia Balazs from Toronto Swim Club.
In the men's race, Philippe Dubreuil from Sherbrooke won by over 2 minutes, with Jarod Ballem of Calgary second and Simon Tobin of Quebec City third. Our own David Creel had to withdraw at 6.5 k with an elbow injury.
Karley will represent Canada at the World Open Water Championships in Seville, Spain, May 3 - 8, 2008. Congratulations, Karley and coach Ron!
This season's first Sunday Series camp was a lot of fun! Swimmers and coaches concentrated on freestyle technique, so watch for speed in the water this weekend at the VIR Mini-Meet - go PCS!
Dave Creel and Karley Stutzel, with coach Ron Jacks, are heading to Fort Myers, Florida this week for the Canadian National Open Water Championships which take place next Sunday (October 21st). The event does double-duty as the US Open Water National Championships.
Dave represented Canada at the 2007 FINA World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne, Australia and was the top Canadian in the 10km Open Water event. At the 2006 National Open Water Championships, also in Florida, Dave was the 25km Bronze medalist, for Canadian Gold.
Karley was a member of the Canadian team at the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, where she placed sixth in the 10km event. Karley won two Bronze medals on the FINA 10km circuit last year, in Singapore and Roberval, Quebec, and was the 5km Silver medalist at the Australian National Open Water Championships in December 2006.
Both swimmers are aiming for a spot on the Canadian team for the World Open Water Championships in Seville, Spain, May 3 – 8, 2008.
Good luck and fast swimming to Dave and Karley from everybody at UVPCS!!
PCS swimmer Austin Nolt is shaving his head on October 15th for not one but two great reasons. His mom reports that she will miss his hair, but it will grow back. Read on-
A long time ago I started growing my hair to donate to Angel Hair for Kids. My hair will be made into wigs for children who have lost their hair because they are sick. My hair is now long enough to donate. Yahoo! Since I'm cutting it off anyway, I'm going to shave my head to raise money for the Cops for Cancer campaign. I'm trying to raise $1,000 and hope that you will help me reach my goal. Thanks so much! Austin
Swim BC held its Annual General Meeting and Awards Banquet at Whistler, BC this weekend, and UVPCS swimmers and coaches came away with a passel of awards. As well, PCS dad and founding President Dean Crawford was elected to a two-year term as Swim BC President. Congratulations Dean!
Congratulations to –
Ron Jacks and Peter Vizsolyi, who received National Recognition Awards, given to coaches of swimmers with National and International medals and records. Ron received the award for Stephanie Dixon’s World and National records (more about Stephanie below). Peter won for MacKenzie Downing’s international Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, and National Senior 100 Butterfly record, at World University (FISU) Games.
Stephanie Dixon was named Female SWAD Swimmer of the Year, for multiple Canadian records, and most notably her 100 Backstroke World Record at the IPC World Championships in Durban, South Africa. Stephanie thanked her mom, Joanne MacDonald, her teammates and supporters, and her coaches Ron and Peter, for all their support.
For coaching Stephanie to these accomplishments, Ron Jacks was named SWAD Coach of the Year.
Two PCS Honorary Life members were inducted into the Swim BC Hall of Fame: Greg Streppel and Dorothy Liedtke. Both were strong supporters of PCS leading up to and since its inception.
Greg was the 1994 FINA 25 km World Open Water Champion; between 1992 and 1995 he won every FINA open water race he entered and he won 13 of the last 16 races of his career. Greg spoke very eloquently about the people who influenced him in swimming and life - among others, Greg thanked his coaches Ron Jacks and Peter Vizsolyi, as well as John Campbell (Ravensong Aquatics Coach) and Dorothy Liedtke for their major roles in his swim career.
Dorothy was happy her three children started swimming – so they wouldn’t watch Saturday morning cartoons; she eventually became the Meet Manager for the 1994 Commonwealth Games. She thanked her husband Werner Liedtke, and Ron and Peter for their friendship and for teaching her what she needed to know.
And last, but definitely not least, PCS was named the Swim BC 2007 Club of the Year. President Margaret Penning and Head Coach Ron Jacks accepted the award on behalf of all our members. Margaret spoke briefly –
We are very proud to receive this award. Five years ago this month, PCS hit the ground running and we haven’t stopped yet. PCS’s accomplishments and this award are tributes to the mutual respect and teamwork evident amongst our swimmers, coaches and parents. We would like to thank Swim BC and all those who helped us along the way. We look forward to the next five years!
Pan Pacs Open Water at Elk Lake, August 2006 Photo credit: Margaret Penning
UVic & PCS swimmers and families lost a dear friend and supporter on May 23, 2007, when Russ Rolston died from the effects of ALS. Russ volunteered many hours over many years, helping our swimmers reach their goals.
ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and is a progressive and ultimately fatal neuromuscular disorder. Before he died, Russ asked that his friends support him in his goal of contributing to the fight against ALS, so that someday no one would have to fight the same battle he did.
The Victoria Walk for ALS is taking place on Sunday, September 23, 2007 at the University of Victoria, beginning at 10 am. This is a fun, family-friendly event designed to raise money for ALS research and services to support those living with ALS and their families.
Russ’ goal was to raise $5,000 for ALS. The Pacific Coast Swimmers and Parents Association has donated $500 to this event in his name and to honour his memory. Please consider participating in the walk and/or making a donation.
To register for the walk, go to the Walk for ALS website.
------------------------------------------------------- PCS received the following two messages from the Rolston family in response to our donation in Russ’ memory:
Hi, Can you pass this on to all who have supported my family and my dad through his battle with ALS? Thank you very much for the donation. The support through the website is remarkable! I know that my dad enjoyed every moment he spent on the pool deck. He loved working the meets and getting to know the swimmers and parents of such a wonderful club. Through your help our family has already passed his goal of $5,000 for the walk. The swimmers, parents and coaches of Uvic - Pacific Coast Swimming will always be very special to me and my family. It was very special to my dad that he was able to do what he loved through his ALS and seeing him on the pool deck and on the lake at Pan Pacs was more than I could have asked for. Kellie
Thank you so much for the generous donation. Russ would be very happy that we met our goal for this 2007 WALK. Russ loved the sport of swimming and it is because of the wonderful people involved in the sport we met. xoxoxo Donna, Kellie and Lindsay Rolston
Congratulations to members of Team PCS at the Terry Fox Run in Victoria! Participants included Savannah Barratt, Ana Karina Garcia, Victoria Jetko, Kali Lancaster, Lia Lancaster, Ana MacLeod, Stephen Olmos, Ariyan Suleman, Sarah Suleman, Evan Letkeman, Jackie Langlais, Penny McCulloch-Barratt and coach Mark Lancaster.
-------------------------- SNC excerpt -
Swimmers across Canada took on The Terry Fox Run Challenge, a Canadian Swimming tradition in order to support Cancer research and awareness while being active. Many swimmers, coaches and parents were amongst the 100,000 supporters of the Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research this past Sunday as it marked the begin of swimming season.
"Terry Fox represented great Canadian qualities such as determination, courage, the ability to dream big dreams and the willingness to make a difference," said Pierre Lafontaine, CEO and National Coach. "These are the qualities that can easily represent what Swimming Canada is striving to achieve."
The Canadian Swimming Terry Fox Challenge was introduced to the community last year by Lafontaine as a great initiative for athletes to start the swimming season with an outdoor training opportunity that also instills great values.
"Why not support what has become around the world the symbol of Canadian identity and get the Canadian Swimming community to join the thousands of Canadians participating in this run," cheered on Lafontaine to it’s 30 000 member community. "Help make dreams happen and support this great Canadian tradition."
PCS swimmers, coaches, parents and friends enjoyed a sweet September evening at the Sixth Annual Registration BBQ on Friday night - and special thanks to the master chefs manning the barbeques. Adults caught one another up on summer's events, kids played in the fields, and everybody enjoyed burgers, hot dogs, salad, corn on the cob... and cake.
If you forgot to bring your forms to the barbeque, just bring them to your first practise - swimming starts the week of September 17th. Information regarding registration and all our forms are also available on our registration page... let the season begin!
Congratulations as well to coaches Rod Barratt and Ron Jacks!
Swimmers were selected based on their performances in long course (50m) meets from July 1 - August 15, 2007. Complete details are available at the Swim BC Provincial Teams page.
As the 2006-2007 swim season approaches an end amid summer sunshine, our annual Year in Review newsletter is now available online. Congratulations to our swimmers, coaches, parents, friends and supporters for a season full of accomplishments, from first lengths completed to international medals and records to the fantastic meets we hosted!
Registration forms for the 2007-2008 season will be appearing soon in current swimmers' Canada Post mailboxes, and all our registration information and forms are also available on our registration page.
Pacific Coast Swimming's summer swim camp was a big hit in the pool and on the wall - congratulations to participants on climbing the heights and swimming at sea (pool) level, and having a whale of a time in the process!
CHIBA, Japan – Canadian swimmer MacKenzie Downing has her sights set on becoming one of the rare athletes from the Yukon to go to an Olympic Games. She is concluding the best season of her career this week at the International Swim Meet 2007.
Downing, 20, squeezed in this week’s competition as she returns home from an exceptional performance at the World University Games in Thailand earlier this month. At the Games she won gold in the 100 butterfly, silver in the women’s 200 butterfly and helped Canada to bronze in the medley relay. The 100 fly and relay times were Canadian record performances and the 200 fly was a personal best.
Along with Audrey Lacroix of Pont-Rouge, Que., who won that 200 fly race in Bangkok, Canada has a strong 1-2 punch in the women’s fly, with both swimmers consistently improving heading into the all important 2008 season.
"We know we have to be fast because the other one is right there and it’s a good thing for both of us," said Lacroix. "Every opportunity to swim against each other we use to learn new things and to become better swimmers."
Last November, Downing suffered a shoulder injury which derailed her training entering a 2007 season which featured the World Aquatic Championships in March in Melbourne and the World University Games.
"It’s been a pretty good year," said Downing, who reached the 100 butterfly semifinal at the worlds. "When I returned from the injury, I just wanted to post improved performances at every competition I entered. I think I did that pretty well and learned a lot. I worked really hard after the injury and tried to make up for last time."
"I’m not where I want to be yet but I’m just glad the injury happened this year rather than next. Staying healthy obviously is a big goal for 2008."
Besides challenging the best in the world, Downing says her Olympic preparation was enhanced with her participation at two big multi sport events this year.
"It’s really great to swim against top calibre athletes," she said. "I learned a lot from it. Being in the athlete village situation in Thailand with all kinds of athletes from all kinds of sports was great."
Downing credits strong coaching while learning her strokes in Whitehorse. She learned to love the water at an early age because mother was a lifeguard and joined her first swim club at five. She started competing seriously at 12.Three years ago she moved to Victoria to training at Pacific Coast Swimming. She is studying Greek and Roman history at the University of Victoria.
"Everyone back home is so excited," said Downing, who regularly took three-day car trips to Vancouver for competitions as a teenager with her parents. "My parents get stopped on the street by people congratulating them on my performances. It’s a really big deal there."
In Thursday’s women’s 100 butterfly B final, Downing placed fourth for 12th overall followed by Lacroix in fifth. Competition ends Friday.
The final day of competition at the ParaPan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil brought more Gold for Stephanie Dixon. Today's medal, her sixth gold, came in the S9 50 Freestyle.
Stephanie wraps up her ParaPan Am competition with seven medals - six golden (100 Backstroke; 50, 400 Freestyle; 200 IM; 4x100 Freestyle Relay; 4x100 Medley Relay) and one silver (100 Freestyle). She also set ParaPan and National records in the 400 Freestyle.
Leading up to the Games, Stephanie was also a ParaPan Am Ambassador. "Since I have to focus mostly on my swimming here, I hope I’m leading by example. ...I want to show that a person with a disability can lead a full life and go after big dreams... The most powerful thing we can do here is get the word out. Hopefully we can change some viewpoints." (quote excerpted from SNC).
Congratulations again to Stephanie (great example!), the coaching staff at ParaPan Ams and to Steph's coaches Peter Vizsolyi and Ron Jacks.
See full story for Saturday on the Canadian team at SNC...
Stephanie Dixon earned Gold with a twist tonight, including in the accomplishment a new National & ParaPan Am record in the S9 400 Freestyle. Congratulations again to Steph! Congratulations as well to the coaching staff at ParaPan Ams and to Steph's coaches Peter Vizsolyi and Ron Jacks.
Day three of swimming competition at the ParaPan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil saw more success for Stephanie Dixon, who earned the Silver medal in the S9 100 Freestyle; she was also a member of the Gold medal 4x100 Medley Relay.
Stephanie Dixon is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, representing Canada at the ParaPan American Games, and she started the competition with a Gold medal in the S9 100 Backstroke - congratulations Steph!
It was a great day in the water for Canadians. See the ParaPan Am Games report for the full story.
Another day, another medal and another record for MacKenzie Downing at the FISU Games in Bangkok, Thailand. MacKenzie took the Silver medal in the 200m Butterfly, shattering Jessica Deglau's 1999 Provincial record. The new standard is 2:08.83. Fellow Canadian Audrey Lacroix won the Gold medal, bettering both her own National record and the FISU Games record in the process. Quite a race for Canadians!
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