Australian Dolphins determined for success in Cairns

 

 

Swimming Australia: August 2, 2018: A sea of international swim stars will descend on the tropical town of Cairns this August 9-13 for the 2018 Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships (Para Pan Pacs).

Swimming Australia and the Cairns Regional Council are thrilled to welcome the sport’s best para athletes from around the world to the Tobruk Memorial Pool in Cairns for the pinnacle event of the Paralympic swimming calendar for 2018.

Stars from the US, Canada, Japan, Brazil, New Zealand, Singapore, Costa Rica and South Africa will be heading to the Far North Queensland town to take on our 35-strong Australian Dolphins team.

Cairns’ hometown hero and Dolphins veteran Grant Patterson will be a crowd favourite, featuring alongside a team led by Paralympic gold medallists Lakeisha Patterson, Brenden Hall, Ellie Cole, Tim Disken, Rachael Watson, Tiffany Thomas-Kane and Blake Cochrane. Rising swim sensations Monique Murphy and Rowan Crothers will also feature in the Dolphins line-up.

Swimming Australia CEO Leigh Russell said the support of Cairns Regional Council was vital in bringing world class athletes to the tropical town and renowned tourist destination.

“The tropical backdrop of Cairns is the perfect location for the 2018 Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships. Our Australian Dolphins and the international competition are excited to be competing in Cairns - the event is a testament to the incredible support we’ve received from the Cairns Regional Council in making this possible,” Russell said.

“Our Dolphins have been training hard and I can’t wait to see the fantastic performances on display at the 2018 Para Pan Pacs, which are also an important step on our pathway to Tokyo 2020,” Russell said.

Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning said there was an air of anticipation throughout the city as the start of the Para Pan Pacs drew closer.

“Our city is honoured to host such a high-profile event as the Para Pan Pacs,” Cr Manning said.

“These championships will provide an opportunity for spectators to see inspirational and talented athletes compete, many of them will be chasing world records. It will also provide an opportunity for Cairns to showcase its first-class sporting infrastructure. Tobruk Memorial Pool is a spectacular facility and the atmosphere will be electric at this international event. I wish all athletes the very best for the competition,” Cr Manning said.

The Australian Dolphins are coming off the success of the Commonwealth Games where they claimed 7 gold medals and 21 medals in total.

Swimming Australia Paralympic High Performance Manager Adam Pine said the Para Pan Pacs is a turning point for the team on the road to Tokyo 2020.

“The Para Pan Pacs mark the halfway point of our cycle and is an important step on the way to Tokyo 2020. It’s been two years since our team performed in Rio and we have some new faces and developed stars. With high performing athletes from USA, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand and Canada competing, the bar is set high and it’s a great opportunity for our team to practice and hone our racing skills. This is our peak event for 2018 and all swimmers will be focused on producing the best and fastest swims of the year”, said Pine.

“Cairns will provide us the chance to have a large number of coaches and support staff on-site so we can all practice and prepare for strong performances in 2019 and 2020. It will also be a chance for our development squad athletes to understand what they need to do to make the jump to international level ahead of Tokyo,” said Pine.

“It is rare our swimmers get the chance to race on home soil; for some who had the privilege of competing in the Commonwealth Games, this event will provide a chance for family, friends and spectators to experience and get to know our future champions,” said Pine.

Entry to the 2018 Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships is open to the general public and FREE. Heats commence at 10am and finals from 5pm.

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Event Details:

• 2018 Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships
• Tobruk Memorial Pool, 370 Sheridan St, Cairns North QLD 4870
• Thursday 9 August – Monday 13 August
• Heats from 10am, Finals from 5pm. For a detailed schedule of events, visit https://www.swimming.org.au/Events/2018-Pan-Pacific-Para-Swimming-Championships.aspx#acc1
• Entry is FREE and open to the general public

 

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