Skip to content

National carding status awarded to local swimmer

Last season, local swim sensation Bronwyn Pasloski made a splash by winning a bevy of medals in competitions across Canada, leading to a 113 world…
bronwyn-pasloski

Last season, local swim sensation Bronwyn Pasloski made a splash by winning a bevy of medals in competitions across Canada, leading to a 113 world ranking in the breaststroke.

This season, Pasloski is now on track to make some waves too.

Last week, the Whitehorse Glacier Bears member was awarded national carding status by Swimming Canada.

The status is part of the Athlete Assistance Program, which is devoted to improving the performances of Canadian athletes in international competitions such as the Olympics and World Championships.

“I’m definitely going to keep pushing my hardest in my training,” said Pasloski. “(I will also attempt) qualifying for Worlds this summer and up my ranking in the world. And try for the Canadian record in the 200-metre breaststroke.”

Under Youth I Development card status, Pasloski will receive $900 a month to help offset training and competition costs that add up to roughly $40,000 a year.

“It’s going to travel, hotels, going to meet-fees,” said Pasloski. “Everything we go to costs so much money…

“When we do go with Team Canada, we do get aid and they’ll help us out with the funding, but we still need to pay for our airfare and stuff.

“(The $900 a month) is going to be a big help.”

To receive carding status, swimmers must be ranked in the top 150 worldwide, and also must be recognized as having the potential to be in the top 16 in the world.

Unfortunately, Pasloski’s new status as a government-funded athlete will prevent her from representing the Yukon at next summer’s Canada Summer Games in PEI.

“(To compete in the Summer Games) would be unfair for someone who’s getting financial aid to go,” said Pasloski. “It gives a shot to other developing swimmers to go and have the experience.

“I’m sad that I can’t go, but I’ve had the experience to go already. So I’m glad to give up my spot so someone else from the Yukon can go instead.”

Pasloski competed in both national and international meets during the season, including some multi-medal performances at major competitions.

At the end of the season, Pasloski took golds in the 100- and 200-metre breaststroke at the North American Challenge Cup in August. And that qualified her for card status.

Pasloski also had great success at the Age Group Nationals at the start of August in Calgary, taking gold in the 50-, 100- and 200-metre breaststroke.

At the Senior Nationals in Winnipeg, Pasloski came third in the 50-metre breaststroke.

Although Glacier Bears president Pat Duncan had plenty to say about Pasloski’s marked improvement as a swimmer, she was impressed by Pasloski’s efforts as a team player.

“I’ve watched Bronwyn on deck at meets and on deck during practices, and she really is a strong teammember,” said Duncan. “I pay the highest of compliments to her in that respect. She takes the time with younger swimmers, she’s supportive, she’s on deck cheering on her colleagues, her teammates.

“While swimming is an individual sport, she is very much a member of the team.”