A brother-sister duo from Sarnia’s Rapids “Y” Swim Team is competing at the Swimming Canada Age Group Nationals in Winnipeg this week.
It's the third appearance at nationals for 15-year-old Samuel Boily-Dufour and the inaugural appearance for 13-year-old sister Maude.
Between them the pair qualified in 11 events.
“I hope to make the “A” finals in all (six) of my events,” said Samuel. “And I hope to make the podium in three or four events.”
His best chance for a medal is likely the 100-metre backstroke.
Samuel won a bronze medal in the 100-metre backstroke at the provincial championships earlier this month in Brantford, and silver in the 100-metre freestyle.
After losing much of last season to injury, his sister's goals are a little less lofty.
“I'm expecting to make the “B” finals in a lot of my events and hopefully some “A” finals.
“A” finals feature the top eight from the preliminaries, while the “B” finals are those who qualify nine to 16th.
Her best events are the 50-metre and 100-metre backstroke.
Their coach is more focused on times.
“My expectations as a coach are more geared toward best times then what place they get overall,” said Nick Abrametz.
“If they get a medal or place in the finals, that's a bonus,” he added.
Abrametz and his assistant coach Chantal Boily, who happens to be both Samuel and Maude's mom and president of the Rapid “Y” Swim Team, say the pair has not yet reach their full potential.
“I think that in the next couple of years, if they buckle down and decide that they want to make the Olympic Trials and swim internationally, those goals are attainable,” said Abrametz.
- Barry Wright