Previewing Lima 2019: Canada’s NextGen swimmers at ParapanAm Games

OTTAWA – The future of Canadian Para swimming will be on display at the Parapan American Games.

While the A team is tuning up or the IPC World Championships set for September 9-15 in London, a young 13-member squad with dreams of competing in the 2020, 2024 and even 2028 Paralympics will get their first taste of a major Games in Lima.

The average age of the Canadian squad is 18.77 years of age. The youngest team member is 13-year-old Colleen Cloetta of Baie-d’Urfe, Que., and the oldest at 33 is Patrick Waters of Kamloops, B.C. Ten of the 13 swimmers are under 20.

The other swimmers are Caleb Arndt of Newmarket, Ont., Nicholas Bennett (pictured) of Parksville, B.C., Jacob Brayshaw of Coldstream, B.C., Arianna Hunsicker of Surrey, B.C., Tyson Macdonald of Tillsonburg, Ont., Angela Marina of Cambridge, Ont., Clémence Paré of Boucherville, Que., Krystal Shaw of Moose Jaw, Sask., Myriam Soliman of St-Hubert, Que., Michelle Tovizi of Markham, Ont., and Emma Grace Van Dyck of Port Colborne, Ont.

Based on recent results at the national swimming championships, Canada’s top pool athletes in Lima include Bennett and Brayshaw who both broke two national records in Winnipeg. The 15-year-old Bennett lowered the Americas record in the S14 200-m freestyle and the Canadian record in the 200-m individual medley.

Brayshaw, 16, notched national marks in the S2 100 back and the 50 back. For her part, Soliman, 19, broke the Canadian mark in the S6 50-m butterfly.

There are 10 different sport classes for athletes with a physical disability, numbered S1-S10. Visually impaired categories are S11 to S13 and S14 classification is for intellectually challenged. A lower number indicates a more severe activity limitation than a higher number.

Brazil dominated Para swimming at the 2015 Parapan Ams in Toronto.

Canada is sending a team of 151 athletes to the Lima 2019 Parapan Am Games, taking place August 23 to September 1.

For more information on the Canadian Parapan Am Team, please visit Paralympic.ca/lima2019.