Swimming
Background
With almost the largest coastline in all of Canada, and the mildest climate in the country, it’s not surprising that British Columbia has a long and rich tradition and history in the sport of competitive swimming.
While CASA (Canadian Amateur Swimming Association) was formed in 1909, the BC section was not far behind, joining alongside Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Alberta in 1912. In partnering with CASA, the provincial sections also adopted the constitutional rules of CASA: “to promote, foster and perpetuate swimming, protecting it from professionalism, establishing swimming championships, and uniting swimming clubs throughout Canada in making the art a national pastime, sport and manly form of recreation”.
Dating back to the formation of organized swimming in Canada in 1909, through to the FINA World Aquatics Championships in 2009, BC swimmers have excelled at the National and International level.
Over the years, BC has proportionally won more international medals than any other province in Canada, culminating in all three of Canada’s medals at the 2009 World Championships resulting from efforts of two of BC’s world-class swimmers: Annamay Pierse of Vancouver, and Ryan Cochrane of Victoria.
How to Watch Swimming
There are four strokes contested in competitive swimming - butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle - with one other event which combines all four of those strokes - the medley.
Distances in all strokes are 100 and 200m, with additional freestyle (front crawl) races in the 50m, 400m, 800m (girls), and 1500m (boys). There is also a 400m individual medley. It will be clear after watching a few swim races that the goal of competition is simple: the first person to touch the electronic touchpad at the end of the pool wins the race.
The swimming competition at the BC Summer Games features preliminaries in the morning session, followed by finals in the afternoon, with the exception of the “distance events” (800m and 1500m freestyle) which are contested as “timed finals” with the swimmers racing just once
In all other events, the morning prelims, or “heats”, determine the fastest eight swimmers in each event, both boys and girls. Those eight then race for the medals in the afternoon “finals” session.
The lane assignments for the finals place the fastest swimmer from prelims in lane 4, the next fastest in lane 5, then sequentially, lanes 3-6-2-7-1-8. Typically, the lanes to watch in the final are lanes 3, 4, 5, and 6 (as those are the four fastest swimmers in prelims). However, it is not unheard of for a swimmer in one of the outside lanes to sneak past the crowd in the middle of the pool and grab one of the podium places.
Fun Facts on BC Swimming
- Ryan Cochrane (IS) from BC currently holds the most Senior National Records - 6; BC Games Alumni Brent Hayden (UBCD) also from BC, currently holds 5.
- Annamay Pierse (UBCD) and Brittany Reimer (SKSC) from BC are tied for currently holding the most Senior National (women) Records - each holds 5.
- In the 2008-2009 season, 207 Provincial records were broken, 68 National Age Group and Senior National records were broken by BC swimmers, and 7 World Records were broken by BC swimmers.
- Swim BC athletes currently (2009) hold 23 National Age Group Female Records.
- BC athletes currenty (2009) hold 17 National Age Group Make Records.
- BC athletes currently (2009) hold 40 Senior National Records.
For more info on Swimming, contact Swim BC at www.swim.bc.ca or (604) 898-9100.
Swimming - Special Olympics
Background
Special Olympics is a world-wide organization providing sports training and competition for persons with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Canada is recognized by Sport Canada as the main provider of these services and hosts National Games on a two year cycle. Special Olympics BC was incorporated in 1980 and now joins over a million athletes from over 170 countries throughout the world.
Athlete Development
The BC Summer Games are an integral component of the Special Olympics BC Athlete Developmental Model as they act as one of the main qualifying events for future National and International Competitions including the Canada Games. Many of the athletes you will have the opportunity to see in the Township of Langley will be competing for spots on the Special Olympics BC Training Team for the 2011 Western Canada Games and potentially the 2013 Canada Summer Games. The 2010 BC Summer Games are just one of the opportunities to showcase some of the best young talent Special Olympics BC has to offer.
Competition at the Games
Special Olympics BC is proud to submit a team of 24 athletes (12 Males and 12 Females) in the sport of aquatics to the BC Games. Athletes competing in aquatics were selected based on previous performances that matched or exceeded time standards set out by Special Olympics BC to ensure a high level of competition. Keep your eyes on the pool as SOBC has put together a team of athletes that have competed on the Provincial, National, and International stage. Some of these same athletes will also be attending the 2010 Special Olympics Canada National Summer Games in London, Ontario with the opportunity to be chosen to represent Canada at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece in 2011.
Coaching Development
Led by some of Special Olympics BC’s most experienced coaches from around the province, the BC Games are used as a stepping stone for coaches wishing to move onto higher levels of competition including Western Canada Games, Canada Games and International competitions. Special Olympics BC coaches must complete a number of high level certifications to be selected to coach at the BC Games and consider the Games an excellent opportunity to develop further skills and experience a high level of competition.
For more info on Swimming - Special Olympics, contact Special Olympics British Columbia at www.specialolympics.bc.ca or (604) 737-3078.