Kelowna masters swimmer Carmelle Guidi-Swan will be at the H20 Adventure and Fitness Centre this weekend as Kelowna plays host to the 2012 Canadian Masters Swimming Championships.
But the reigning Canadian record holder in the 100 metre butterfly for women 40 to 44 won’t be able to compete in her home town due to a shoulder injury suffered in the past couple of weeks.
“I’m really disappointed,” said Guidi-Swan, 40. “I was looking forward to racing people that I don’t normally race. There are a lot of people from back east that will be here and there will be some really good competition. I know there are some girls around my speed that would have been really fun to race.”
After setting the Canadian and B.C. records in the 100 metre butterfly at the masters provincials in March, Guidi-Swan’s shoulder started to give her problems a couple of weeks ago, something fairly common to swimmers in the butterfly event.
She was still hoping to take part but after seeing her physical therapist on Wednesday night, had to make the decision to sit out the event, one of the rare times that the masters nationals will take place in Western Canada.
“The timing was not good,” she said. “But it’s going to be a great event and a great opportunity for masters swimming.”
More than 500 swimmers ranging in age from 19 to 93 will be in Kelowna this weekend as the Okanagan Masters, Westside Thunder and Wine Country Masters swim clubs combine to host the first ever Canadian National Masters Championships to be held in Kelowna.
Competition begins Friday and will range from novice swimmers to former Olympians and everything in between.
“It’s going to be a great event,” said Guidi-Swan. “It would be great for people to poke their heads in and see what it’s all about. It’s pretty amazing. You have ex-Olympians and then you have beginners. It’s a great opportunity for a lot of our local swimmers. There are even some triathletes that wouldn’t normally go to a swim meet that are going to swim the 1,500 metres just because it’s so close.”
Guidi-Swan says she will help out as much as she can, timing some events and cheering on some of her teammates. However when her butterfly events are taking place, she will not likely be in the building.
“I kind of want to stay away because I know my lane will be empty,” she said. “That’s going to really bug me because I want to be in there.”
Swimming events begin at noon on Friday and continue through Monday with swimming beginning at 8 a.m. each morning. More information on the meet is available at www.cmsc2012.ca.
