WINNIPEG — Red Deer Catalina swimmer Joshua Young made some major waves in the Canadian Age Group Championships at the Pan Am pool. Young, 13, snared nine gold medals and admitted later that he was inspired by U.S. swim legend Michael Phelps.
‘’During the 2012 Olympics I would watch Michael Phelps swim every night before going to bed and that has really motivated me to one day compete at the Games,’’ said Young, who started swimming at the age of nine and was initially afraid of putting his face in the water.
‘’I’ve worked really hard for my success so I feel I’ve earned it,” he added. “The big key for me has been the endurance training.’’
Young won gold in the boys 13 and under 50-metre breaststroke with a time of 30.50 seconds, and the 50m freestyle (25.22) and 100m free (55.41). He also took top honours in the 200m free (2:00.57), 200m breast (2:24.80), 100m breast (1:07.08), 200m individual medley (2:13.64), 400m free (4:15.71) and 1,500m free (16:59.80).
Kyla Leibel of the Catalinas won gold in the 12 and under girls 100m butterfly in a time of 1:05.15, as well as the 50m free in 27.66 seconds and the 50m butterfly in 28.86 seconds. In addition, she earned a silver in the 100m free (1:00.83) and placed seventh in the 200m free (2:17.02) Catalina teammate Rebecca Smith picked up a gold medal in the 14 girls 200m individual medley with a time of 2:20.22, and won silver in the 50m butterfly (28.07) and bronze in each of the 100m free (57.32) and 100m backstroke (1:04.42). She also placed fourth in the 50m free (26.52) and 200m free (2:05.61).
Catalina member Kristan Trepanier finished fifth in the 15 girls 200m ‘fly (2:21.71) and 200m free (2:08.07), sixth in the 400m free (4:31.73) and ninth in the 100m ‘fly (1:06.04).
Another Red Deer swimmer, Daniel Stayer, finished ninth in the 15 boys 50m free with a time of 24.63 seconds.
The Catalinas finished 14th in the national team standings with 458 points. The Sylvan Lake Swim Club placed 103rd with 34 points.