Edmonton swimmers prepare for ‘lifelong dream’ at 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in Paris

The 2024 Summer Olympics will get underway successful Paris successful little than 3 weeks, and later this summertime France’s superior will besides big nan 2024 Summer Paralympics.

Nearly 15,000 athletes are scheduled to compete astatine nan 2 events — which sounds for illustration a ample number, but nan title conscionable to get location is arsenic intense.

“It’s ever been a lifelong dream to make nan team,” said Reid Maxwell, who is heading to nan Paralympics later this summer.

Maxwell is 1 of 2 swimmers from nan Edmonton area who said to Global News astatine Noon Edmonton connected Tuesday astir their excitement to execute connected nan world stages.

Maxwell, a 16-year-old who said nan 400-metre freestyle arena is his “bread and butter,” recalled really he felt erstwhile he learned he had qualified.

“It was beautiful surreal,” he said.

Maxwell said he has yet to study what swimming event(s) he will beryllium competing in.

Emma Finlin, 19, will correspond Canada successful nan women’s 10-kilometre unfastened h2o swimming arena astatine nan Olympics this summer.

“It’s rather an fierce athletics to beryllium honest,” she said. “The cameras don’t really travel america afloat passim nan race, truthful you can’t really spot what’s going connected successful nan water. But it’s a beautiful endurance-based event.”

Finlin made her world debut for Canada astatine nan 2022 World Aquatics Championships. She has committed to aquatics collegiately for Ohio State University successful nan fall.

“I’m ace excited,” said nan athlete, who began swimming astatine nan property of six. She told Global News her older sister began swimming first and she dove successful not agelong after.

“I’ve ever looked up to her, truthful I benignant of conscionable followed successful her footsteps and I conscionable stuck pinch it,” Finlin said, noting that her full family will beryllium pinch her astatine nan Olympics successful France.

Both Finlin and Maxwell acknowledged location is unit to execute astatine their events this summer, but noted they person support networks that help.

Trending Now

“Our coaches and nan group we activity pinch benignant of support america calm, which is really nice,” Finlin said. “There’s tons of resources.”

“Coaches, family (and) friends benignant of support you successful check, but nan unit is decidedly there,” Maxwell said.

Maxwell, who was calved missing his little correct limb and lives pinch Prune Belly Syndrome, which involves a partial aliases complete absence of tummy muscles, first emerged connected nan nationalist swimming shape astatine nan 2022 Canada Games, wherever he won 5 medals successful 7 events.

He said while swimming is his superior pursuit erstwhile it comes to competitory sports, he besides likes upland biking, kayaking and snowboarding.

While Maxwell and Finlin are eagerly anticipating nan opportunity to execute successful nan pools astatine nan Paris events, they are besides looking guardant to nan acquisition arsenic a whole. Both dream to sojourn nan Eiffel Tower.

Maxwell said while he is successful France he besides plans to return a travel to Vichy.

“I get 4 days after, truthful I americium really excited for closing ceremonies,” Finlin said. “I deliberation that will beryllium really cool because I americium not location for opening (ceremonies).”

The Olympics tally from Friday, July 26 to Sunday, Aug. 11. The Paralympic Games return spot from Wednesday, Aug. 28 to Sunday, Sept. 8.