Swimming pair head to Glasgow
City’s Baumann, Funk hope to make big splash at 2014 Games
A pair of Edmonton swimmers have each carved out a unique path as they hit the road to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Richard Funk and Tabitha Baumann are looking to make a splash for Canada in Glasgow, Scotland.
Baumann has a big family legacy to live up to — her father, Alex Baumann, is one of Canada’s most decorated Summer Olympic athletes. The elder Baumann competed in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, winning gold in both the 200m and 400m breaststroke, and setting world record times in the process.
According to Tabitha Baumann, her father’s achievements do not set a bar for her to reach, but rather a path to follow.
“Having my dad and knowing what he did … I don’t want to try to one up him. I don’t even think that would be possible,” the 19-yearold said. “Just trying to follow in his footsteps is amazing for me. I idolize him, and it’s very emotional to know that I could be doing anything close to what he did at this age.”
Born in Australia, the long distance swimmer really didn’t take to sport until she moved to Canada at the age of 12.
It was her return to the nation for which her father starred that sparked her love for swimming. When Baumann had to choose a nation to compete for, it was an easy decision.
“I was just drawn to swimming for Canada,” Baumann said. “It’s where I learned to love the sport, and I wouldn’t have felt right swimming for anywhere else.”
The Commonwealth Games won’t be Baumann’s first appearance for Canada. Three years ago, she helped her team finish second in the 4X200m relay at the FINA Junior Championships. She will be competing in two freestyle events, the 400m and the 800m.
Fellow Edmontonian and Keyano swim club member Funk will join her in Glasgow.
Funk began his athletic
“To be able to represent Canada is definitely a great honour”
richard funk
career much like you’d expect any Canadian kid, by playing hockey, and he was good at it, too. By 15, Funk was playing midget AAA.
However, hockey was taking up seven months of his year, so Funk gave it up to pursue swimming fulltime.
“Obviously, as a kid growing up in Edmonton, you’re a diehard hockey fan,” Funk said. “So when you decide to stop and pursue something unconventional like swimming … it was a little bit of an adjustment.”
The decision has worked well for the 21-year-old. In 2013, swimming for the University of Michigan, Funk helped his school win the NCAA Division-1 National title.
Funk’s national career started in 2010 at the Canadian Summer Nationals. He most recently swam for Canada last year, competing in the 100m breaststroke during the FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain.
“To be able to represent Canada is definitely a great honour, and it’s something I don’t take for granted,” Funk said.
The pair of swimmers will begin their gold-medal hopes on Wednesday.