Rapids’ Dekker Wins Gold at Western Canadian Championships

February 24, 2012

                The Speedo Western Canadian Championships were held in Winnipeg, Manitoba last weekend with the best swimmers in the western provinces attending.  For Nicolaas Dekker (16) it was his time to shine on the national stage.  Dekker walked away with two gold medals in the 100 and 200 butterfly, a silver in the 100 backstroke and a bronze in the 50 butterfly.

                This was a huge step in the right direction for the young Rapid swimmer whose best placing last season at the meet was ninth.  The meet divides up competition into 16 & unders  and 17 & overs for males and 15 & under and 16 & overs for females. 

                Dekker’s next challenge of the season will come at the Canadian Olympic and Paralymic Trials in Montreal this March where he hopes to equal the times he just performed in a long course pool. 

                Rapids’ Head Coach Robert Pettifer was ecstatic about the way his swimmers performed.  “Last year we came to this meet in Kamloops and were outsiders looking into event finals, this year our boys were contenders in most of the events.   It was great to see that transition from them.”

                Other great performances from the Rapids came from Brandon De Costa (15) who achieved his Senior National qualifying time in the 50 backstroke as well as a silver medal in the event.  He was also 4^th in the 50 butterfly.  Michael Jakac-Sinclair (14) was 8^th in the 50 freestyle while Liam Kell (16) was 6^th in the 200 breaststroke.

                The team brought 7 athletes total including Dekker, De Costa, Kell, Sinclair, Nathan Muszynski (17), Paula Gosse (15), and Tiffany Orr (16). 

                Hopes for the team include an even bigger team and some more event wins next year. 

                Club records were broken by:  Michael Jakac-Sinclair in the 13-14 50 free and 100 free.  Nicolaass Dekker in the 15-16 boys 800 free, 100 back, 50 fly, 100 fly and 400 IM.  Brandon De Costa in the 15-16 year old 50 backstroke and by Liam Kell in the 15-16 year old boys 50, 100, and 200 breaststroke.

                The team gears up for the BC AAA Provincial Championships next weekend in Surrey.  The team will be bringing 41 athletes to the meet in the hopes of capturing a top 5 position at the meet. 

                For more information on the Richmond Rapids Swim Club click on www.richmondrapids.com or call 604-275-7946.