Paralympic Games champions Benoit Huot of Montreal and Stephanie Dixon of Victoria both expect tough challenges for gold medals at the 50-country world championships for swimmers with a disability which starts in Durban, South Africa, Saturday.
Canada is fielding a 23-member team, with a range of swimmers in pool and open water races from veteran Andrew Haley, at his fifth a likely last world championships, to 12 swimmers competing at their first major international event.
Huot, 22, won five gold medals and broke three world records at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. He collected eight medals at the last world championships held in 2002 in Argentina. However, this year there is a rising star in Huot's S10 category, 22-year old Andre Esteves of Brazil. He recently lowered Huot's world mark in the 50-metre freestyle.
"I'm looking for big performances but I expect a tough battle from Esteves," said Huot, who'll swim six races at the worlds. "I've never raced him before but his results this season show he is very fast. It should be exciting."
Other members of the men's team are Drew Christensen of Vancouver, Devin Gottell of Antigonish, N.S., Andrew Haley of Toronto, Brett Hickenbotham of Coquitlam, B.C., Brian Hill of Montreal, Alex Parent of Fort Frances, Ont., and Adam Purdy and Brad Sales, both of London, Ont.
Haley, who lost a leg to the same form of cancer that claimed Canadian icon Terry Fox, is the two-time defending world champion in the 100 butterfly in the S9 category.
"The 100 butterfly is my first race and I'm focusing primarily on that one," said Haley. "I'd like to win it but the world is going faster than ever, and combine that with the fact I've been working full time [on coprorate sales for the Toronto Blue Jays] I know I face a big challenge to repeat. My goal is to swim better than I have in the last year and half. We've been here for a week so I've had time to properly rest up for this competition."
Dixon won eight medals at the 2004 Paralympics including a gold in the 100 backstroke. As was the case in Athens her big rival will be multiple Paralympic champ Natalie Du Toit of South Africa. Dixon says the veterans have a big role to play in Canada's success at the worlds and brining along the new generation.
"It's a great team atmosphere with all the young kids here," said Dixon. "The veterans have a role to create a great environment for them so they can bring their best game possible. It's great to be a mentor, show them the ropes and make this a smooth process for them."
Other members of the women's team are Andrea Cole of Thunder Bay, Ont., Kirby Coté of Winnipeg, Darda Geiger of London, Ont., Chelsey Gottell of Antigonish, N.S., Valerie Grand'Maison of Montreal, Brittany Gray of Barrie, Ont., Jessica Hodgins of Windsor, Ont., Laura Jensen of Fort St. John, B.C., Genevieve Ouellet of Quebec City, Anne Polinario of Montreal, Jacqueline Rennebohm of Regina, Katarina Roxon of Corner Brook, N.L., and Rhea Schmidt of Winnipeg.
At the 2002 worlds, a 17-member Canadian team collected 28 gold, 14 silver and five bronze.
The competition will be broadcast on the internet on www.paralympicsport.tv
With files from James Christie