6th International Down Syndrome Swimming Championships: NSW swimmers' results

Team Australia 2012
Down Syndrome Down Under Swimming Organisation

Australia sent a team of 23 swimmers to Loano, Italy to compete in the 6th International Down Syndrome Swimming Championships, including 4 swimmers from NSW, November 2012. The swag of medals was impressive, as can be seen by the list, despite there being formidable competition from several countries such as Italy, Mexico, Great Britain and South Africa.

All that training paid off, with Australia once again the overall winners. We were all so proud of our Aussies and the amazing effort they put in. Unfortunately Daniel Rumsey was taken ill so was not able to compete in the last three days of competition but the others kept swimming despite exhausting long days.

Brendan Foley swims in the mosaic category whereas all the others have Trisomy 21, which is hard for Brendan as he can never swim a relay as there are not enough Aussie swimmers with mosaic DS.

Lucy Dumitrescu was included in 5 relays and came back with a gold for each one, but a heat and final of a relay every day added hugely to her work load. She returned with gold in 100 and 200 fly and bronze in the 50 fly, so she was the world's best butterflier, Madame Butterfly!

James Lawrence was the new man to the team and was a valuable member coming back with his share of medals.

Well done NSW!

It is fantastic for our swimmers to race against swimmers from so many other countries, and it is amazing that Australia can return with so many medals when swimming against the best swimmers with Down syndrome in the world. The reward for all that work is visible on their faces. For the parents came the thrill of knowing what our athletes can do: they can train hard and race hard, producing wonderful results.

NSW swimmers: Damiel Rumsey, Brendan Foley,
Lucy Dumitrescu and James Lawrence

Individual results were: 

Daniel Rumsey
Gold 4 x 50 medley relay
Gold 100 Breaststroke
Silver 50 Breaststroke
Bronze 100 Backstroke

James Lawrence 
Silver 25m freestyle relay
Silver 25m medley relay
Bronze 4 x100m freestyle relay

Lucy Dumitrescu Gold 100 butterfly
Gold 200 butterfly
Gold 4 x 50 free relay
Gold 4 x 100 free relay
Gold 4 x 200 free relay
Gold 4 x 50 medley relay
Gold 4 x 100 medley relay
Bronze 200 backstroke
Bronze 50 butterfly

Brendan Foley (Mosaic)
Gold 800 freestyle
Gold 200 breaststroke
Gold 400 freestyle
Gold 1500 freestyle
Gold 100 butterfly
Gold 200 individual medley
Silver 100 breaststroke
Silver 50 breaststroke
Bronze 200 IM

The next event on our calendar is:

2^nd Down Syndrome National Swimming Championships

Knox Grammar Pool, Wahroonga, NSW 2076

28th - 29th September 2013

There will be races for every level of swimmer, and swimmers with Down syndrome swimming against other swimmers with Down syndrome (Mosaic and T21 separately).  We are following the lead of Great Britain and Europe where  Nationals CHampionships are held to encourage more swimmers.with Down syndrome to participate.

The Knox Pool is a beautiful new indoor 25m pool, close to the station so easy for interstate visitors. We will hold a dinner on Saturday 28^th to help us get to know each other.

Entry forms will be available later in the year.

For further information, please contact: The Secretary, sg17harvey@gmail.com  or Down Syndrome Down Under Swimming Organisation.

Sarah Harvey