Canadian Senior Championships Begin Today

Val CarrNews, Swim Alberta News

WINNIPEG – World championship medallist Eric Hedlin of Victoria and Olympians Rachel Nicol of Lethbridge, Alta., and Kennedy Goss of Toronto headline the 2019 Canadian Swimming Championships set for Thursday to Sunday at the Pan Am Pool in Winnipeg.

Hedlin, fresh off his bronze medal in the five-kilometre open water race at the worlds, is back in the pool this week to the race distance freestyle events. World championship finalist Kelsey Wog is also scheduled to compete in her hometown and is seeded first in the 100-m breaststroke.

Goss, a 2016 Olympic team member in Rio, is seeded first in 200-m backstroke, 200-m freestyle and 400-m freestyle while Nicol is the favourite for the 50-m breaststroke.

While there is some veteran presence at nationals, with the recent completion of the FINA World Championships and the current Pan Am Games, these nationals are offering many of the NextGen Canadian swimmers an opportunity to get their first taste of second swims and even step on to the podium.

The 2019 Canadian Swimming Championships are a fully integrated meet and will also feature Canada’s team for the Para Swimming World Championships next month in London, England.

Leading the Para-swimming charge are multiple Paralympic and world champion Aurélie Rivard of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., Katarina Roxon of Kippens, N.L., Tess Routliffe of Caledon, On., and Nicholas Turbide of Quebec City.

A total of 346 athletes from 104 clubs will not only be battling for individual and relay titles but also the club crowns.

Tickets are available for purchase on-site.

Final sessions begin at 5:30 p.m. each day and tickets are $10 each, while preliminary sessions kick off at 9:30 a.m. each day and tickets are $5 each.  A full meet pass is available for $40.

The 2018 Canadian Swimming Championships are being webcast at: http://www.rectectv.ca/

Results will be available here: https://results.swimming.ca/2019_Canadian_Swimming_Championships/

For further information about the event visit: https://www.swimming.ca/en/events-results/events/2019-canadian-swimming-championships/

Original Article by Swimming Canada found here.