Jonathan Dieleman is blazing his way to Rio.
The Telkwa swimmer is at the 2016 Summer Paralympic qualifiers in Toronto and has been recording some of the best times of his life.
He shaved 8 seconds of his 150m Individual Medley time Thursday morning. He also beat his personal, and Canadian, 50m Breaststroke record on Wednesday with a time of 50.39 seconds. It was almost three seconds faster than the old one.
Jonathan says that time surprised even himself.
“When I swam that, I felt really, really good as I was coming through the water and I was just able to keep pouring it on all the way through my swim. It just felt great and when I turned around and looked, I was just stoked that I hit that time,” he says.
It was emotional for many reasons. He dedicated the record-setting race to his grandfather who passed away two weeks ago.
“It was one of those things that weigh heavy on your mind when you’re not able to be home for something like that and come home to be with the family at a time when something like that happens.
He decided to stay and compete, instead of being with his family.”
Looking forward, Jonathan is hoping to qualify for five events. He has qualifiers right up until Sunday night when team Canada will be announced.
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