Rosebud swimmer Austin Knibb has qualified for nationals in Montreal next August after shaving time off his swimming times.
“We’re just slowly getting better,” said Knibb, adding that the addition of Airdrie coach Lynne Driessen has helped strengthen the squad. Knibb and other competitors have been travelling between an Airdrie pool and Drumheller five days a week.
“It’s a commitment, but it’s worth it,” he said. “Driessen catches things we don’t, and we catch things she doesn’t. It’s great having multiple coaches.”
Knibb is no stranger to competitive swimming– he competed in the Alberta Summer Games last year in Peace River. He’s been swimming since the age of 10.
“That was a melting pot for all the best swimmers, it was a good experience. I got quite a bit of tips that I’d never thought about before.”
Excited to compete in Montreal, he’s expecting the level of swimming to be much higher.
“I’m pretty comfortable with going to meets so I’m not nervous in that fact – I just don’t like to lose,” he laughs. Knibb will be competing against 20 year olds in Montreal, bumped up into the 15 and over category.
“I’m not expecting to see any younger kids, I’ll be the youngest,” he said, adding he holds his own against the college swimmers. “It’s not easy, but it’s not too difficult.”
As for a future in swimming, Knibb is hoping to swim his way into a university scholarship.
“I’d like to swim through university, but I’m uncertain about my future and what I want to do.”
“At least get through that, and then see how it goes from there.”
