Exciting Times For Aussie Dolphins When “Gen Next” Joins “Gen Now” For Para Pan Pacs
The biggest names in Australian Para swimming led by Lakeisha Patterson, Brenden Hall, Col Pearse and Tim Hodge will spearhead “Gen Now” when they join “Gen Next” on the Dolphins team for this week’s Para Pan Pacs in Walnut, California.
The meet will signify the official two-year countdown to LA28 with the 37-strong Australian Dolphins’ team is set to unleash from August 28 to 30 at the Mt San Antonio College.
“Gen Next” rookies Montana Atkinson (#P337), Stephanie Bruzzese (#P338), Riley Moore (#P339), Darren Sisman (#P340), Amelie Springett-Kelly (#P341) and Kael Thompson (#P342) have received their gold caps in the countdown to the meet –a powerful symbol of courage, unity and excellence on an Australian Team with a proud history in Australian Para swimming.
Since 2012, the Dolphins have made the gold cap sacrosanct for open teams and today’s presentation included a motivational video from Para legends Matt Cowdrey and Ellie Cole, two prolific Paralympic gold medallists.
IF THE CAPS FIT: Australia’s Para Swimmers set for Pan Pacs Photo Courtesy Swimming Australia.
Dolphins Para head coach Mel Tantrum said today the Para Pan Pacs represented a strategic opportunity and dress rehearsal ahead of the LA Games in which the Dolphins will be the underdogs on American soil.
“Our aim is to go quicker every time we race –from Trials to competition, heats to finals.
“This meet will allow us to identify our strengths and also highlight any gaps in our performance strategy and refine and finetune our processes,” Tantrum said.
“We had a successful taste of that at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and now we re-set, with a bigger team, and with more rookies.
“This meet is important for what we do inside and also outside of the water.
“Rookie swimmers will be exposed to our Australian Dolphins’ team culture and leadership as well as the US specific competition demands.
“Relays are a focus for us. We are implementing our LA Games strategy at Para Pan Pacs by targeting entries in the 20pt, 34pt and S14 relays – an important metric for us not just for LA but in the run in to Brisbane 2032.
“And our team is a mixture of experienced and in-form campaigners like Lakeisha Brenden, Col and Tim.
“We’ve had the likes of Beau Matthews and Liam Togher, both 17, make their Dolphins’ debut in Glasgow and now we have six more rookies who we are looking forward to racing in the green and gold.”
Cairns Para legend Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson is the oldest member of the Para Pan Pacific team at 37, followed by his close friend and competitor Ahmed Kelly, 34.
The team also had a stroll through the confirmed location of LA’s competition site, which is in the Convention Centre allotment at Long Beach.
While LA is the official host city, Long Beach is designated as a “Venue City” and will host seven sports including para swimming.
