UVPCS swimmer Nicholas Sinclair has been named to the 2009 National Junior Team, and will compete for Canada at the January 2009 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Guam.

Congratulations to Nick and coaches Ron Jacks and Peter Vizsolyi!

Swim BC announced its annual awards at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting in Whistler, BC this past weekend. Coaches Ron Jacks, Peter Vizsolyi, Mark Lancaster, John Stamhuis and Meghan Griffiths attended, as did Board Members Margaret Penning and Barb McKee.

Paralympian Stephanie Dixon arrived home in Victoria and was greeted by 35+ UVPCS swimmers, coaches, parents and friends, and A-Channel television cameras. Stephanie set six Canadian records and one World record at the Beijing Paralympics and came home with four medals (Gold, 2 Silver & Bronze). Stephanie's Gold marked the third time she won the 100 Backstroke at the Paralympics - in 2000, 2004 and now 2008.

Welcome home, Stephanie!

The 7th Annual Welcome Back & Registration BBQ took place on a warm summer evening in Elk-Beaver Lake Park, and it was the biggest and best bbq ever! Grown-ups chatted, kids threw frisbees, dogs wagged their tails, the BBQ crew ... bbq-ed ... We all had a delicious dinner and caught up with old and new friends and the summer news.

Welcome back and thanks to everybody who helped! If you forgot your registration forms for the BBQ, please bring them to your coach at your next practise.

Take your marks and let the 2008-2009 season begin!

On Sunday, in her final day of competition at the Beijing Paralympics, UVPCS swimmer Stephanie Dixon earned a sixth place in the 50 Freestyle, breaking the Canadian record in the process. Congratulations to you, Steph, and congratulations again to UVPCS coaches Ron Jacks and Peter Vizsolyi, and the Canadian Paralympic coaching staff.

Stephanie Dixon won Gold in World Record time today in Beijing in 100 Backstroke - congratulations, Steph, we are so proud of you!!

Congratulations as well to Stephanie's coaches Ron Jacks and Peter Vizsolyi and the coaching staff at the Paralympics.

Another day, another Silver medal, another Canadian record for Stephanie Dixon. Today's Silver arrived wrapped in the 400 Freestyle event, accompanied by nearly five seconds off her entry time into the event! Awesome swimming, Steph!!

Follow the results here.... Bonne chance and fast swimming to all in the days to come - go Canada! Go Steph!

The first two days of Stephanie Dixon's Beijing Paralympics yielded two Canadian records, with a fourth place and Bronze medal in the S9 100 Butterfly and 100 Freestyle respectively.

"I take it one day at a time and do the best swim that I can put together for each race. That's all I have control of." Carry on great swimming, Steph!

UVPCS swimmers Zac Parkes, Nicholas Sinclair, Kyle Scarff and Jayme Weimer have been named to the 2008 Short Course Provincial Teams. Congratulations to these swimmers and their coaches Rod Barratt, Peter Vizsolyi and Ron Jacks!

Allison Cross, Vancouver Sun

Somewhere between nine training sessions a week in water and on land and her studies at the University of Victoria, Paralympic swimmer Stephanie Dixon finds time to give back.

Although she was once told she'd never even ride a bike, she volunteers and teaches rock climbing to kids with disabilities, said Peter Vizsolyi, the head coach of UVic's swim team.

"She's an interesting girl. She has a tremendous amount of energy," Vizsolyi said. "She'll really step forward to do things."