Local swimmer hoping to make a big splash

By Jonathan Guignard

Guij26@gmail.com

A swimmer from Magrath is hoping to make quite the splash as she travels to Leduc this weekend for competition.

Dawn-Marie L’Heureux will be competing at the Alberta Summer Games starting today.

Dawn-Marie specializes in breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle. She’s going into the games with the hope of landing a spot on the podium.

“My goal in the 50 metre breaststroke is to get under 37 seconds and in the 50 metre freestyle I would like to break 30 seconds,” said Dawn-Marie.

Dawn-Marie recently competed at the 2016 Speedo Alberta Age Group and Senior Championships from June 30 to July 3.

The competition was intense, but she says it was a good test for her and she really enjoyed it.

“It was really fun, but you had to work really hard to get where you wanted. It was fun, but challenging,” said Dawn-Marie.” “There were so many girls who were really fast and it was hard trying to be faster than them. But it was fun trying to beat them.”

Dawn-Marie has been swimming since she was very young and has found a real passion for the sport.

“I like the feel of the water and the pump of adrenaline you get before you step on the block. I just love it,” said Dawn-Marie.

Her mother, Geralyn L’Heureux, brought Dawn-Marie with her to the pool when she was a baby and says she loved it from the beginning.

“She was like a fish in the water. It was a sport that she really took to and just really enjoyed it,” said Geralyn.

She says her recent success had been indicative to how hard she works.

“She trains six days a week at an hour and half at a time, plus dry land training. Next year it will go up,” said Geralyn. “She has a smooth style and her big thing is she is always working on her stroke rate, trying to get her speed of strokes improved.”

Dawn-Marie is part of the Lethbridge Amateur Swim Club, but her mother says her roots are well planted in Magrath.

“All her fundamentals and her love for swimming came from the Magrath pool. It’s a really special place for her and she continues to want to be a part of the Magrath Swimming Club,” said Geralyn.

The Alberta Summer Games takes place from July 14 through to the 17.

Over 3000 athletes are expected to compete in 14 different sports. The age range for competitors is 11 to 17 years old.

Dawn-Marie is hoping this competition will set her up for Nationals. For schedules and results you can visit their website at http://www.2016asg.com.

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