“Team Australia Swimmers
Champions of the World”
28 World Records
It was the start we all had been hoping for to have our Down Syndrome Down Under Ambassador and Olympic Champion, Jessicah Schipper come along to Brisbane International Airport to wish the Australian Team all the best for the 4th Down Syndrome World Swimming Championships in Portugal. Her final words were just do your best and try for PB’s and have a great time. “Australia certainly did all three.”
Team members from Victoria, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Queensland meet up with our 2 Western Australian team mates in Singapore and the team was united once again. The following morning it was off to Singapore Zoo for a day of sightseeing. The team of 20 swimmers and 7 coaches from all over Australia arrived in Portugal 3 days prior to competition that meant there was plenty of time for team building and training.
From the first day of competition records began to fall with some courageous swims, the Australian National Anthem played all week with swimmers being presented with flowers as well as their beautiful medals.
Australia won the overall point score with 84,000 points, giving them the new title of World Champions. Their nearest rival and with the biggest team was Great Britain with 55,000 points followed by South Africa. A total of 26 countries competed and Australia dominated winning 28 Gold, 19 Silver and 12 Bronze, also smashing 7 World Records in the relays, making a total of 28 World Records.
Congratulations to our team leaders Amanda Kozik from Victoria and Daniel Rumsey from New South Wales, they carried the Australian flag with pride. Congratulatons to Trisomey 21 swimmers Tahnee Afuhaamango from Northern Territory and Daniel Rumsey for being the top swimmers of the meet.
Thank you to all our friends who sent herograms, they were very much appreciated and made us feel very proud. Thank you to our Australian Supporters, they were simply the best, the chants of Aussie, Aussie, Aussie echoed throughout the pool. We all had a fantastic time, meeting up with old friends and making new ones. We were congratulated not just on our performance in the pool but the manner in which the team conducted themselves, showing great sportsmanship at all times.
The next World Championships will be held in Taiwan in October 2010. Thank you Team Australia, I am so proud of you, it was truly an honor to be part of such a great sporting event.
Sue Stanley
Team Manager |
