THUNDER BAY – This weekend was a big one for competitive swimmers across the region.
The annual Northwestern Ontario Long Course Regional Championship Swim Meet took place at the Canada Games Complex, drawing in 150 athletes, between the ages of 9 and 25.
Swim teams from all over the region sent their best swimmers to compete and organizers said that this weekend was the biggest turnout they’ve seen since before the pandemic.
“For this meeting, it's great,” said Rabecca Bourgeois, meet manager.
“It means that the region's getting back into the swimming after, you know, the COVID restrictions and everything. Some of the smaller teams or the communities are just rebuilding, so the fact that we have a lot of [younger] swimmers is fantastic.”
Maddy Giardetti, an athlete with the Thunder Bay Thunderbolts said that this weekend’s meet was a great opportunity for the younger swimmers.
“We’re usually separate, and the big kids are off at meets in Toronto or Winnipeg, and then sometimes the little kids are at different meets or we’re in different sessions,” she said.
“So, for a meet like this, it’s really good for the club because we get to come together and we all get to, kind of, get to know each other a little bit more and be more of a club. It’s really nice.”
Thunder Bay's next big meet, the May Grand Prix, will bring in teams from all over the province.
