Two 14 Wing Greenwood swimmers doubled up their performance results at the combined Canadian Armed Forces nationals and the Masters Swim Ontario provincial championship
The CAF nationals and the Swim Ontario event took place March 22 to 25 in the Markham PAN AM Centre, a good opportunity to bring military athletes from across the country together for CAF competition, and open meet races. They were eligible to compete in a minimum of four individual events plus a relay, to a maximum of six individual events plus four relays.
Master Corporal Sandi McLean went 10-out-of-10 in her individual events, winning CAF gold in four races and six gold in meet races; plus putting in two Canadian records, PLUS winning gold in three relays. The meet wins came in the 50- and 100-metre breaststroke races (Canadian record), the 50m freestyle, the 100m backstroke, the 100m free and 100m fly events. The 100m breast, 100m freestyle, 100m fly and 100m backstroke all counted as CAF gold as well.
Major Jacinda Vlaar competed in her first competition since the 2019 CISM games in Wuhan, and the intervening COVID-19 pandemic and the birth of her two children. She won silver medal age-group medals in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle events; golds in her age-group 100m and 200m backstroke events (she was second overall in the 200m backstroke), and won several gold medals in age-group relays – including two with McLean on the team. All of this followed her participation in the immediately prior CISM training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where CAF athletes competed in a lifesaving pool time trial, and ocean event competition against the American lifesaving team.
“It was an amazing experience (in Florida) and I was happy with my results in the time trials,” Vlaar says, describing how swimmers flew direct to the Ontario event for more pool time. There, “overall, I was very happy with my results – and even happier to come back and see some of my closest friends again. Sports are so important for my morale!
McLean agrees the camaraderie in the CAF swimming community is a huge inspiration.
“CAF nationals is a wonderful event as it allows us to liaise with the other swimmers across the CAF, and we get to interact with the different elements as well,” she says. “We also get to see our CISM teammates. Being in the CAF makes it hard to create team cohesion, as we are spread across the country. Events like this allow us to bond and share different drills, workouts and more. Every single year, it renews my love for the sport.”
McLean and Vlaar are both keen to see swimming grow, and would be happy to help 14 Wing athletes build their pool technique. If anyone is interested in a potential two-day drills and skills camp, regardless of skill level, in support of their swimming for racing, lifesaving or triathlon; contact McLean, Sandra.mclean@forces.gc.ca
