PNS Swimmer Nominated to 2008 US Paralympic Swim Team

Marin Morrison, WEST (with assistance from Bellevue Club), realized the first step of her Paralympic dream when she was nominated, along with 37 other athletes to represent the U.S. at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, September 7-17.�

Competing at the US Paralympic Trials at the University of Minnesota, April 3-5, Marin lowered her American record for the S5 (classification) 50 meter backstroke to 51.14 during prelims.� This time slotted her 6^th in the world rankings for her class in this event which led to her selection to the team.

Due to a brain tumor and subsequent surgeries and treatments, Marin is hemiplegic (can only use one side of her body) but moves through the water with power, speed, and grace.� Her one arm backstroke is picture perfect.� The training it took to get to this point has been a cooperative effort between utilizing pool time and coaching at Bellevue Club, incorporating the coaching skills of her high school coach, Andy Hay.� He in turn, enlisted the services and resource of West Coast Aquatics.� Marin started back on the competitive road over a year ago with the PNS Disability Swim Club, Shadow Seals.

Thanks to Klaas Schenk, Karen Dugan, the Bellevue Club, Andy Hay, Troy Emmons, and West Coast Aquatics for everything they have done to help Marin and her family to realize this dream. Marin�s mother, Nancy Morrison has been nominated to the staff to serve as a Personal Care Attendant and will be traveling with her to Beijing. Congratulations and best wishes, Marin and Nancy!

Two other PNS swimmers competed at the trials representing WAVE Aquatics.� Ira Kaplan, competing in the S6 Classification and Lan Fen Kaplan competing in the S9 classification, continue to improve their rankings by posting best times in a majority of the events they competed in!� Congratulations, Ira and Lan Fen on your outstanding performances!� Keep up the great training and racing!

Also nominated as an assistant coach to the staff of the US Paralympic Swimming Team is Kiko Van Zandt, Head Coach, Shadow Seals.� She was also an assistant coach for the US Paralympic team in Athens, 2004 and the World Championship Team that competed in Durban, South Africa in 2006.

The next elite level competition with qualifying time standards is the CAN-AM Disability Championships in Victoria, BC Canada, July 11-13, 2008.� If you have any questions about Disability Swimming, please contact PNS Disability Chair, Kiko Van Zandt at [email protected] or 206-524-2417 (evenings).

We will keep you posted on our adventures this summer�.the next installment will cover Paralympic Training camp at the OTC, June 19-22.