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Dolphins' next generation of standouts

Winskill club continues to produce national level talent with Calvin Slinn invited to Spain this month
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Winskill Dolphin members (left to right) Calvin Slinn, Naomi Cole, Thomas Kranjc and Eric Tong all turned in impressive swims at the recent Westerns in Edmonton. Slinn has been invited by the Canadian Distance Team for a training camp and competition in Spain this month.

The next wave of standout swimmers coming through the Winskill Dolphins made a splash at last month’s Western Canadian Championships in Edmonton.

The club based out of the Winskill Aquatic Centre has produced some of the country’s top swimmers in recent years including 2016 Olympians Markus Thormeyer and Noemie Thomas. 

At just 21, Thormeyer is primed to lead the Canadian contingent to the 2020 Games in Tokyo and is fresh off winning all four of his events at the Canadian Team Trials in Toronto.

Following in the lane is 15-year-old Calvin Slinn.

His first place finish and personal best time in the 1,500 metre free at Westerns got the attention of Swim Canada. He is one of 12 swimmers that have been invited to a camp and international event in Spain later this month. 

The competition in Majorca is known internationally as Best Fest and races are held each day from May 26 to June 1. 

While at the festival, Slinn will be under the care of Swim Canada Open Water and Distance coach Mark Perry. Two additional coaches, one team physician, one massage therapist and two sports scientists are also part of the Canadian contingent. 

The team will have training sessions every day and compete in open water races at distances of 1.5km, 2.5km, 5km and 7km.

Besides his 1,500m win at Westerns, Sinn was third in the 400m free and fourth in the 400m individual medley. 

Other Dolphins in Edmonton included Naomi Cole, 15, who was solidly among the top 25 in her 100m and 200m breaststroke swims.

Eric Tong, 16, captured bronze in the 50m free. He was also seventh in the 100m free and 18th in the 100m butterfly. 

Devon Dupuis, 16, swam in five individual events, highlighted by a 10th in the 100m fly. 

Thomas Kranjc, 17, made the finals in the 100m fly (10th), 100m free (12th) and 50m fly (13th).

Kranjc, Dupuis, Tong and Slinn also finished seventh in the 4x100m free relay.