Mile-High Moments: Lethbridge Swimmer Joins Team Alberta for Meet in Denver

Mile-High Moments: Lethbridge Swimmer Joins Team Alberta for meet in Denver

This past weekend, one of Lethbridge’s very own, Taylor Ginther, participated in a swim meet in Denver, Colorado with Team Alberta. Ginther, 15, was named to the Aspire Team, a U18 team made up of a select group of top swimmers in the province. The youngest on the team of 8 swimmers, Ginther and her teammates made the trip across the border to compete in the 2024 Denver Invitational, taking on some of the best swimmers in the state.

Taylor raced in 5 individual events, placing in the 50 Free(3rd), 100 Free(2nd), and 100 Back(3rd), along with competing in the 400 IM and 200 Free. She also contributed mightily on all three of Team Alberta’s relays which were also able to place, along with outright winning the 200 Medley Relay. Of note, Ginther had the fastest splits of the entire meet in both the 200 Free Relay and 400 Free Relay races.

When asked about some of the highlights of the meet, the young Lethbridgian replied “getting to race in a different environment, and a different set-up (yards), allowed for no expectations and no pressure in racing.” With American’s racing in 25 yard pools rather than the typical Canadian set-up of 25 meter pools, Ginther added “the pool felt so short, you could just go for it!” when racing the 50’s and 100’s. 

The team bonding and friendships that were created on the trip was something that Taylor feels she will be able to look back fondly on. She recounted her and her teammates sitting in the hotel lobby after the end of the meet, going over memories and experiences they shared together. As well, Ginther felt very proud of the medley relay team winning the 200 yard race. “It was the first time we had all been on a team together, so to be able to come together and race the way we did was special.”  

While there were some challenges and lessons to be learned, whether it was working with new coaches or experiencing a rather different racing environment and way of running meets, the young swimmer walked away proud of what she accomplished.

Taylor now returns to join 13 of her LASC teammates for racing in Calgary this weekend, November 9th-10th, at the Cascade Speed Meet.