Seven Piranhas heading to Olympic Trials

The Piranhas said in a release that this “caps an outstanding 18 months of competition and achievement” that included local, provincial, national, and international competitions.

“Our entire squad, top to bottom, has demonstrated excellence in training and in competitions. Having seven swimmers qualify for the Canadian Olympic Trials is a remarkable achievement. During the last Olympic cycle, we had one qualifier and before that we had not sent swimmers to trials since 2000. Fast forward four years and we are thrilled to be sending a squad of 7”, said Director of Swimming Alex Dawson in the same release.

Recent achievements include Dawson and Jordan Greber racing as part of Canada’s Junior International Team in Israel last September, where Greber was on a bronze medal-winning relay team.

Also last September, Kwiecien was part of Team Canada at the FINA Open Water Swimming Championships in the Seychelles.

There were also medals at the Canadian Summer Swimming Championships in Toronto in August, including Monsen, Dawson, Frayn and Mikayla Laurin winning gold in a mixed medley relay.

The Piranhas also were named the top medium-size team and finished fifth overall at the Swim Alberta Spring Championships and sent a record number of competitors to Swim Alberta’s Festival North.

“The work Coach Dawson and his team have done over the last several years to prepare our swimmers to compete at all levels is a testament to the strategic vision of organization and the dedication of parents, athletes and coaches to that vision. To be the size we are and to be contesting like we are makes our club one that is watched by the rest of the province. We are doing really amazing things in our pool,” said club president James Robinson in the same release.

Robinson says in an email to EverythingGP that it is his understanding Greber and Catherine Minic will also be at the Olympic Trials, although they will not compete under the Piranhas banner.

by Curtis Galbraith