A Collingwood Clippers swimmer has qualified for a provincial training program and earned a spot in Olympic trials next year.
Cole Mitchell, 16, finished his season with a win in the 200-metre backstroke final at Ontario Provincial Championships.
His gold medal qualifies him for the Ontario Swim Academy, which trains out of the Toronto Pan Am Swim Centre in Scarborough. Through the academy, Mitchell will be able to access national-level swim coaches and sports medicine practitioners.
Because of his performance at the Ontario Summer Championships, he has also qualified for Olympic trials in March, 2020.
Mitchell said he is excited for the transition and looking forward to the challenge of an intensive training program of 12-15 hours in the pool or weight room each week.
Mitchell’s ultimate goal is a spot on Canada’s national swim team.
