Hunter excels on world stage
Team Canada placed fourth but Michael Qing emerged as a star
Truro’s Matthew Hunter gave a good account of himself in the pool.
Hunter won one gold and one silver in his races and his coaches said he also improved his personal best times during the recent Down Syndrome World Swimming Championships.
“What’s signi cant is that at 30 years old he’s recorded a number of best times at this meet, so to be able to do that is a wonderful testament to his coaches and to the training he’s put in to get ready for the meet,” said Matthew’s father Joel Hunter, as the event wrapped up.
Team Canada coach Darcy Irwin was also pleased, saying that Canada’s fourth place was their best result ever and he hoped to one day win the top title for their country.
He added that the team had shared too many proud moments “to even name.”
“I’m holding back tears right now,” said Irwin.
Team Australia claimed top honours, beating out Britain and Italy for top spot.
The Australians’ final points tally was 715, followed by Britain’s 684 and Italy’s 609. Team Canada missed out on a place in the top three with a nal score of 458. Australian head coach John Beckworth said his side won numerous individual medals and the depth in his team came through in their strong relay race results, as well as more than 100 personal best times.
“I always admire athletes with a disability and often I don’t see them as being any di erent to ablebodied athletes. ey train just as hard, they perform to their best and that’s what sport’s all about,” said Beckworth.
One Canadian athlete who took that message to heart was Canadian swimmer Michael Qing, who won best male athlete in the mosaic category, for athletes with the milder form of Down syndrome.