SPORTS FLASHBACK 2011: Swimmer skims seconds off best time

Thirteen-year-old Lianne Brunel has an MVP performance in the pool at the Manitoba Junior “A” speed swimming provincials in Winnipeg this past weekend.

Brunel was the only one to reach the finals of the five members of the Steinbach Skimmers Swim Club who competed in the event, but Amy Peters, Emily Bell, Erika Tetrault and Jayda Brandt all earned multiple ribbons for finishing in the top 10.

For Brunel, it was a memorable weekend, as she earned a bronze medal in the 50-metre freestyle, a fifth place finish in the 200-metre freestyle, and seventh place finishes in the 50-metre breast stroke and the 100-metre freestyle.

In her bronze medal swim, the 50-metre freestyle final, Brunel managed to shave three seconds off her qualification time from four weeks earlier, putting her into the standard time for ages 15 and over.

Brunel will be rewarded for her excellent performance on the weekend, earning a guaranteed place at the provincials for the next five years, when she will be an 18-year old.

Speed swimming made it’s debut in Steinbach in 1990 when there was only an outdoor pool and the season was limited. Interest in the sport grew and more and more swimmers became involved.

With the opening of the Steinbach Aquatic Centre in 2002 Steinbach swimmers were able to practice year-round and in 2004 the Steinbach Skimmers Swim Club was officially formed.

By 2025, the Steinbach Skimmers had grown to over 25 club members. Anyone interested in more information about getting involved in this exciting sport should e-mail the club at steinbachskimmers@gmail.com.