The following is being distributed at the request of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador:

Media Advisory: Four Swimmers from Newfoundland and Labrador to Compete at Olympic Trials

More than 800 swimmers from across Canada are headed to Montreal to compete in the Olympic Trials for swimming commencing March 27 at the Olympic Park Pool. Four of those swimmers will be representing Newfoundland and Labrador at this prestigious competition.

Veteran paralympian swimmer Katarina Roxon (Island Wahoos Swim Club) is entered in all seven paralympic events (50m Free, 100m Free, 400m Free, 100m Back, 100m Breast, 100m Butterfly, and 200m IM). Island Wahoos Head Coach, Leonard Roxon, comments, “I am proud to see Katarina tryout for the Canadian Paralympic Team once more and have the honour of representing her province and country. This will be her second paralympics if she qualifies and the penultimate of four years of hard work. Training has been going well and she feels she is ready, although she is a little nervous. This is good as it will keep her focussed.”

First time Olympic hopefuls Owen Daly (St. John’s Legends Swim Club), Aaron Buckingham (St. John’s Legends Swim Club), and David Forbes (Memorial University Sea-Hawks) will each be competing in the 200m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and the 50m freestyle. St. John’s Legends/Memorial Sea-Hawks Head Coach, Brad Hutton, is expecting to see some great results from these young men, “Owen is qualified in the 100m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly and the 50m Freestyle. He definitely has the opportunity to final or make consolation finals in his 100m and 50m events. Owen is aiming to post the fastest times in the country for his age group. Aaron qualified in the 50m Freestyle and is aiming to get a second swim in that event. He will be looking to move up in the rankings in all of his other swims, especially the 100m Freestyle where he won't be far off of a swim in consolation finals. David Forbes is the veteran on the team and has been having his best season in the 100m Freestyle and 100m Butterfly events. He is qualified in those events and the 50m Freestyle, he could make a run at consolation finals in any of those events.”

Up to the minute results and live webcast of all finals can be viewed online at www.swimming.ca . Updates will also be posted at www.swimnl.nfld.net as well as at www.facebook.com/pages/Swimming-Newfoundland-and-Labrador/187192592609

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2012 03 28             9:45 a.m.