A local swimmer has made another big splash in the international swimming world.
Ryan Roznowsky earned five medals at the 2014 Down Syndrome World Swimming Championships in Mexico earlier this year, along with a new world record in the 400 IM.
Two of those were gold, the first he’s ever gotten at that level.
Despite that, Roznowsky maintains his favourite moment of the competition was placing in the top five in the 1,500 metre freestyle.
While he makes it look easy, the Grande Prairie native ran into an unexpected setback at worlds, as the pool wasn’t finished in time for the competition, so it was much colder than he’s used to.
“The swimming pool was freezing cold. Let’s just say, it was so cold that I couldn’t warm up properly. I had friends of mine help me gain towels to get around me right before I raced and after warm up.”
Now that he’s 35 and in the Masters category, Roznowsky says he’d considered retiring, but the possibility of more success is too enticing.
“I’m taking a year off until September; no meets. Possibly I might do one in May, maybe; there’s a lot of records I don’t have yet.”