Richmond Rapids swimmer Nicolaas Dekker and head coach Rob Pettifer returned from Hong Kong last week after the third and final stop on the FINA World Cup Tour. As a part of Team Canada, Dekker raced some of the best in the world, including Olympic gold medalists and world record holders. Pettifer was on hand as a member of the coaching staff.
Dekker qualified twice for finals out of three meets, both times in the 200 butterfly. His performances were consistent, with steady improvements through the final day.
The ultimate goal of this trip was to help him prepare for next month’s FINA Short Course World Swimming Championships in Windsor, ON.
Preparation and competition gets expensive quickly, especially when trying to perform at the international level. The Rapids are running a public fundraising campaign to help Dekker represent his club and country.
The club is taking orders for TEAM DEKKER shirts. Deliver is expected before the meet starts on December 6. Each shirt costs $25, and all profits will go directly to financially supporting him.
Orders can be sent to [email protected]. Make sure to include the appropriate size.
A support page can also be found at makeachamp.com/teamdekker/25598, and will continue to run through his preparation for World Trials in April.
