Kippens -
Katarina Roxon's world-class ability as a swimmer continues to progress upwards.
The Kippens SWAD (Swimmer with a Disability) recently captured five gold medals and two silver at the GTAC Disability Open in Cincinnati, Ohio.
She won gold in 50-metre freestyle, 100-m freestyle, 400-m freestyle, 100-m breaststroke and 200-m Individual Medley (IM).
She claimed silver in both the 100-m backstroke and 100-m butterfly.
She accomplished this with four personal best times at the meet, but the icing on the cake came when she qualified for the 50-m freestyle event for the right to compete at the 2010 IPC World Championships in Netherlands in August.
"By God's grace, there were no injuries or sickness and she had great swims," her coach and father Leonard Roxon said.
According to coach Roxon, the young sensation is right on track with her training cycle and fit as a fiddle as she tackles three hours of training every day.
"This quarter the training plan will include an escalation in intensity, focusing on strength endurance component, proper breathing patterns and ensure that she has adequate flexibility with exercises, massage and physiotherapy," coach Roxon said. "So between school, exams, training and competing, she has a packed schedule. Having talked it over with her, she is determined that this is what she wants to do."
Over the next three months Roxon will be competing in a number of track and field events because she uses running as a method of cross-training for her swimming. Tuesday, just a day after landing back in the province, Roxon competed at a regional track and field meet and claimed gold in the 400-m dash, 1,500-m race and helped her Stephenville High 4x400 relay team nab top honours.
