In her career-first swim meet, Richmond Rapids paraswimmer Emily De Boer has made the qualification standards to compete at this year's Can-Ams -a paraswimming-focused event featuring top-level teams from all over the world.
At the Rapids-hosted West Coast Open, De Boer achieved the time in the 100 metre breaststroke, while also reaching the standards for provincials in both the 100 breaststroke and 100
backstroke. Since the athletic classification of paraswimmers is a rigorous and multistep process, De Boer had actually been training for three seasons before she was able to post a sanctioned time.
These performances marked De Boer for participation in B.C.-wide programs. She was invited to attend a provincial camp, which included both provincial and national team head coaches, and a group of her fellow B.C.
athletes. De Boer also earned herself a spot on the B.C. Summer Games team, slated for later this July in Nanaimo.
She will join 45 of her Rapids teammates in Victoria this weekend for provincials -her first championship meet. This marks one of the largest groups of swimmers the Rapids have ever taken to provincials, which bodes well, as the club looks to repeat its winning performance at short-course provincials.
