Adam Prudhomme
Editor
A half dozen personal bests, a disqualification and an invite to represent Canada at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships.
Ben Winterborn’s Bell Canadian Swimming Trials had a bit of everything.
The 18-year-old swimmer, who grew up in Napanee and Kingston, took part in the May 16-19 competition with the hopes of securing a spot on Canada’s Olympic swim team bound for Paris for the 2024 games this summer. While that didn’t happen, it was still a giant step forward for the young athlete, setting new personal bests in the 50 m free, 100 m back and 100 m free.
Representing the Kingston Blue Marlins, Winterborn earned national exposure as the event was broadcast on CBC sports. Though he earned a disqualification in the 200 back finals, he finished third in the 100 m free, sixth in the 100 m backstroke and seventh in the 50 m, posting personal bests of 51.33, 55.78 and 23.83 respectively. He was also 10th in the 200 m free with a time of 1:54.14. All told he posted six times that represented a personal best for his career. His time in the 100 m backstroke was the second fastest time posted by a junior at the event and sixth fastest overall. The field was made up of Canada’s best of all ages, some already with hefty Olympic resumes.
“It was a great one for sure, lots and ups and down, but that’s the way it always goes,” Winterborn said of the Olympic trials.
A few days after the trials he got the call inviting him to join the team that will compete at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships, Aug. 21-24 in Canberra, Australia.
“It was so exciting. I had been waiting all week. After my 100 back I knew it was fast enough that I should be on the team,” recalled Winterborn. “I celebrated with my coach and it was a great moment. I was so happy.”
He says the swim trials were a great experience where he learned a bit more about when to push it for a morning qualifying swim and prepare for a finals later in the event.
Prior to heading down under, he’ll have a busy summer with provincials in July with the hope of qualifying for nationals in early August.
All of which will be another stepping towards his ultimate goal which he’s had since he first began competitive swimming at the age of nine.
“It’s my dream to make an Olympic team and that’s been my goal from the start,” he said. “Now in the next couple years hopefully I’ll make my first national team within a year or two and build up from there and hopefully the Olympics.”
Splitting time between Napanee and Kingston growing up, he recently moved to Toronto to be closer to the Ontario swim Academy, where he trains with Don Burton.