The 21 member Canadian Paralympic Team competed at the Can-Am SWAD International competition in Victoria this past weekend. The meet was the last competitive opportunity for the Paralympic swim team before Beijing this September, with athletes in attendance from Canada, USA, Germany, Greece, Mexico, Malaysia, Venezuela, Argentina and Taipei.  Representing BC on the Paralympic Team are Stephanie Dixon (UVIC-PCS), Laura Jensen (CHENA), Stephanie McDougall (HANEY), Brianna Nelson (IS), Donovan Tildesley (UBCD) and Drew Christensen (HYACK).  Along with these Paralympians, Kyle McMahon from the Prince George Barracudas and Sara Mehain of the Vernon Kokanees collectively broke TEN Canadian Records over the weekend, highlighted by the new World Record set by Donovan Tildesley of the UBC Dolphins in the S11 category of the mens 1500m Free. 

Official Website Live Results

Drew Christensen Category: S8 Age: 17 Club: HYACK Swim Club - New Westminster Coach: Mark Bottrill World Records: SC 400m IM Canadian Records: 50m Fly, 100m Fly, 200m Fly, 50m Bk, 100m Bk, 200m Bk, 100m Br, 200m Br, 200m Free, 400m Free, 200m IM, 400m IM

Christensen made his international debut in 2006 when he qualified for the IPC Swimming World Championships, and won his first international medals at the 2007 Para Pan American Games with gold medals in the 200m IM, 50m Free and 400m Free, as well as a silver medal in the 100m Breast. Beijing is the first Paralympic Games for Drew.

Drew Christensen, representing the HYACK swim club, set the tone for the weekend breaking the first of three Canadian records during the first finals session on Friday afternoon in the S8 category of the mens 100m Br.  Christensen, who set the Canadian record at the Can-Am Champs last summer in a time of 1:30.03, improved the record by a full two seconds posting a time of 1:28.02.

Christensen went on to break the Canadian record in the 50m Fly S8 category on Saturday morning during prelims with 32.03.  The previous record was set 16 years ago by Tom Hainey with 37.72 at the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona.  In the 50m Fly finals Drew lowered this mark a half second further as he touched the wall in a final time of 31.59. 
Results from this weekend include:

3rd		100m Breast		1:28.02		Canadian Record
1st		100 Fly		1:10.23
1st		200m IM		2:37.72
3rd		50m Free		30.66
1st		50m Fly		31.59		Canadian Record
2nd		100m Free		1:06.71