Two Surrey para swimmers have been nominated to represent Canada at this summer's Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Sebastien Massabee of the South Surrey-based Pacific Seawolves Club and Ariana Hunsicker of Cloverdale were among others after the Olympic and Paralympic Swimming Trials concluded in Toronto on Sunday (May 19). was nominated along with 18 other para swimmers.
During the trials, Massabee won the men's 50m free multiclass final in a Canadian S4 record time of 38.08 seconds, and later that night he set another national standard by placing second in the 200m free in 3:07.00. . The 19-year-old finished the trials with six Canadian records and one S4 world record set in the 50 fly on the first day.
Pacific Seawolves coach J.J. Lawrence said Monday (May 20), “He had a best time this week, six for six…(He) set six Canadian records and one world record. It was a record,” he said in Toronto.
Also read: Surrey para swimmer breaks six Canadian records at international competition
“I'm so proud of him…I don't know if it's fully sunk in yet. He's definitely someone who deserves it and has an exceptional work ethic.”
To qualify for the trials, Massabier had to compete at several different levels, including Pan Am, World Championships and European competitions. That meant she and the para swimmers had to go to Indianapolis and then to Portugal to compete and finish. – Mandatory competition in April.
That didn't leave much time to prepare for the trial, Lawrence said, but Massabee, who has cerebral palsy, was still a very good swimmer.
“He has worked really hard for this and it shows. The Paralympic trials were the biggest competition of his life so far as we have been preparing… It could have taken a while, but it didn't and he handled the pressure brilliantly.”
Hunsicker, 20, was named Swim BC's provincial women's para swimmer of the year in 2020 and began competitive swimming in 2017 amid the challenges of COVID-19. .
Also read: Surrey swimmers aim for Paralympic Games amid coronavirus challenges at Fleetwood Pool
Hunsicker, who was born without the use of his left hand, won five medals at the 2017 Canadian Games and a bronze medal at the 2018 international tournament in Poland.
Both she and Massabi will make their Paralympic debuts at this year's Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which will be held from August 28 to September 8 in Paris, France.
Canadian para swimmers are the first athletes named to the Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Swimming Canada said in a statement, and all nominations must be approved by the Canadian Paralympic Committee. is required.
Canada plans to send a team of about 140 athletes.
“A huge congratulations to all 20 swimmers nominated for the Canadian Paralympic Team!” said Karolina Wisniewska, Co-Executive Chef of the Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team, in a release.
“This team is a fantastic group of athletes who have had a brilliant return to the Paralympic Games and success at the World Championships, and we also have some exciting athletes about to make their Paralympic debuts. I know they're ready to leave and can't wait to cheer them on in the pool.”
Of the 20 athletes nominated, the other two from B.C. are Nicholas Bennett of Parksville and Fernando Luu of Burnaby.
– With files from Tom Zillich
