Ontario Community Newspapers

Oakville Beaver, 7 Apr 2011, p. 38

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OkillSports38SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2011 Sibling swimmers both headed to world championshipsBy Herb GarbuttOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFHes a world championship medalist. Hes competed in the Olympics. And yet, theres one title Colin Russell is clinging to that even he knows he cant hang on to forever: the best swimmer in his family.Sister Sinead continued to build her case on the weekend, setting a Canadian record in the womens 200-metre back-stroke to qualify for the world championships. Both siblings will be able to state their case at the FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China in July, after each qualified in two indi-vidual events.I like teasing my little sister Im an Olympian, youre not, said Colin, whos not ready to concede family bragging rights just yet but adds, Its pretty It's pretty clearclear shes going to be way better than Ive ever been.she's going to beHaving already qualified in the way better than100m backstroke, Sinead waited I've ever been.until the final day of the world championship swimming trials in Olympic swimmer Victoria to make her biggest splash. Colin Russell,The 17-year-old obliterated in referring to hisher brothers words the Canadian sister Sinead200m backstroke record, taking more than a second off the old mark by finishing in two minutes, 8.89 seconds to eclipse the MICHELLE SIU / OAKVILLE BEAVERmark (2:10.03) set by Lauren Lavigna in 2009.RECORD SETTER: Sinead Russell, pictured taking a break from practice at White Oaks Pool, set a Canadian record in the 200-It means a lot and Im really excited, she said. I was metre backstroke at last weekend's world championship swimming trials in Victoria. She and brother Colin will both compete in twosurprised. I thought I could (break the record), but I didnt events at this summer's FINA World Championships in China.expect it this time.There was some concern heading in since Russell messed panic, the Burlington Central student said. This time I wasthe event, the highest ranking she has ever achieved. it up the last couple of times she swam the event, including calm, even though it still hurt.Meanwhile, brother Colin defended his title in the 200mthe Commonwealth Games where she finished ninth. But Russell also qualified in the 100m backstroke earlier infreestyle for the fourth time by holding off newcomer Chadwhat she didnt know at the time was that she was suffering the meet, finishing second with a time of 1:00.71. She nowBobrosky to win in 1:49.18.from bicep tendinitis that was causing her pain down the has her sights on becoming the first Canadian woman to goTo be completely honest, Id never heard of him, Russellstretch.under one minute.said of the challenger for his title.Her shoulder exercise was limited following the diagnosis Russell, who also earned a silver in the 50m backstroke,But he knew him well by the end of the race. Russell wentand though it was caught early and she has started treat-said training felt better leading into the trials than it didout as hard as he could in the first 100m, as he usually does,ment, shes not fully recovered. Still, just knowing what the before the Commonwealth Games and the result was encour-and then relied on whatever he had in reserve to bring himproblem was helped her cope. aging heading into worlds.home.(Before), the last 50 metres, it hurt and I started to See Russell, page 39Russells time earned her a ranking of fifth in the world in

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