Canada will be well represented at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. To be more precise, Canada will be well represented by the Dinos. Four athletes from the University of Calgary varsity swim team and one former Dino swimmer will compete for Canada at the games.
The man in this varsity quartet is Rick Say, who captured four individual gold medals at the 2002 cis Nationals. The 23-year-old Communication and Culture major was also named 2001 cis Swimmer of the Year and established national records in two freestyle events.
Dinos Head Coach Mike Blondal expects Say to deliver a great performance.
"Rick has performed very well in the past and is ranked very well," says Blondal. "Even though there are some strong swimmers from Australia competing against him, I think he can make it to the final –and everything after that is up in the air."
Dena Durand, second at last year’s cis Nationals, is excited to have the opportunity to fly to Manchester.
"Since it’s my first major international competition I’m going in with an open mind, but I will try to swim a personal best time," says the 21-year-old. "It’s a dream-come-true because I’ve been trying to make the National Team for the past two years. I didn’t make the Olympic tryouts 2000 and I wanted to make something up and try again."
Durand will go to England for two weeks of training before competing on the very last day of the games.
"I’m going to try to make the final, but I’m honestly not expecting towin a medal," says Durand. "But I have nothing to loose and I’ll go for it. I want to focus, and because this is my first international experience, I want to really take everything in."
The second female athlete is Erin Gammel, a backstroke specialist. Even though she has participated in numerous international events, representing Canada at the Commonwealth Games is special to her.
"It definitely makes me proud to represent Canada at the games," says Gammel. "I’m proud to be Canadian."
Her goal is to swim a personal best time, which is under 1:02.4 for the 100 metre backstroke. This could bring her to the top.
"I really want to be in the top three–I want a medal," says Gammel, a Communication and Culture major from British Columbia. This event means a lot to her after missing the qualifiers for the 2000 Olympics. "I’m making my way back up after a huge disappointment and this was one of my best accomplishments ever in my swimming career. And my long-term goal is the Olympics in 2004"
The final member of the quartet is Kristy Cameron. Only 21 years old, the breaststroke specialist and 2001 cis Rookie of the Year is going to compete at her second Commonwealth Games after competing four years ago in Malaysia.
Just like her three teammates, Cameron is expecting to swim a personal best time, and hopefully, to win a medal. Her toughest competition is coming from her own country, but nonetheless, Cameron is confident.
"I’m very patriotic," she says. "I love my country and I’m proud to represent it. It’s a great honour."
Even though the Olympics are the ultimate goal, the Commonwealth Games are the next best thing and the 21-year-old cis gold medal winner is glad to be part of it.
Coach Blondal is optimistic when it comes to the female athletes.
"I think the three girls are going to do very well–they will be in the finals. They have to get up and get their best times and I know they can do it. They are representing the Dinos, the university and our country."